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How information about building design influences causal attributions for earthquake damage

McClure, John L., Sutton, Robbie M., Wilson, Marc (2007) How information about building design influences causal attributions for earthquake damage. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 10 (4). pp. 233-242. ISSN 1367-2223. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-839X.2007.00232.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:4389)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
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Abstract

Causal attributions for events are shaped by information about causal mechanisms that contribute to the events. In the case of damage from earthquakes, these mechanisms include the design of buildings. Three studies presented scenarios drawn from actual reports of recent earthquakes (Kobe, Japan and Northridge, California, USA), including statements by engineers about the quality of the design of damaged and undamaged buildings. Studies examined whether this design information affected attributions for earthquake damage. Participants attributed damage to building design more strongly and rated damage more preventable when scenarios referred to the poor building design of damaged buildings than when scenarios gave no design information. Information about the excellent design of undamaged buildings had less consistent effects. This effect was most consistent with scenarios about the design of damaged buildings. These findings show that mechanism (design) information does influence judgments about damage in earthquakes and, by implication, other hazards

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1467-839X.2007.00232.x
Uncontrolled keywords: attributions; design information; disasters; earthquakes
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: C.A. Simms
Date Deposited: 20 Jun 2008 16:37 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:42 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/4389 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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