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Exploring sex differences in information needs, media dependencies, and attention allocation during Hurricane Dorian
Kenneth A Lachlan1, Patric Spence2, Emily Hutter3
1Department of Communication, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7856-2797.
Journal of Emergency Management (Weston, Mass.)
|November 23, 2021
Summary
During Hurricane Dorian, women sought more information and found online resources more useful than men. Attention allocation showed minimal sex differences, with media usefulness impacting both genders.
Area of Science:
- Crisis Communication
- Disaster Response
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Hurricane Dorian caused significant damage and loss of life in 2019.
- Previous research indicates sex differences in crisis information seeking and media preferences.
- Attention allocation's role in crisis communication outcomes remains under-examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine sex differences in information seeking and medium preferences during a natural disaster.
- To investigate the relationship between attention allocation and information-seeking behaviors.
- To understand how individuals utilized media during Hurricane Dorian.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale survey was administered to residents impacted by Hurricane Dorian.
- Data collected included information seeking behaviors, medium preferences, and attention allocation.
- Statistical analyses were performed to identify sex differences and correlations.
Main Results:
- Females engaged in greater overall information seeking and sought more tangible-goal-related information.
- Females perceived interactive media (Internet, social media) as more useful than males.
- No significant sex differences were found in initial storm awareness or attention allocation patterns.
- Perceived usefulness of television and Internet had a small effect on attention allocation for both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Findings align with prior research on sex differences in crisis information seeking, particularly regarding tangible needs.
- Interactive media may play a crucial role for specific demographics during crises.
- Emergency management strategies should consider these nuanced differences in communication and resource allocation.
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