Views from the Frontline and Frontline methodology: critical reflection on theory and practice
Disaster Prevention and Management
ISSN: 0965-3562
Article publication date: 19 September 2018
Issue publication date: 22 January 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed account of the “Views from the Frontline” and “Frontline” methodologies, which underpinned the case studies presented in this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
A participant observer account of the development of the methods, leading to a critical discussion of their deployment and impact and a concluding discussion of further work required.
Findings
The study found that iterative development of the programmes had improved their ability to gather and analyse local experience, knowledge and priorities concerning risk and resilience, but raised a concern over the means by which this information was able to achieve necessary political influence.
Originality/value
This technical paper is a first assessment of the underlying method and application of “Views from the Frontline” and “Frontline” and benefits from the participant observer status of the authors. More work is required on the underlying questions concerning qualitative vs quantitatitive methods, and on the means of achieving political impact from the work.
Keywords
Citation
Gibson, T.D. and Scott, N. (2019), "Views from the Frontline and Frontline methodology: critical reflection on theory and practice", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 6-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-07-2018-0214
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited