Evaluating the interactive social-cognitive model for explaining non-compliance to a disaster warning

Abstract

Limited research has been conducted to evaluate how effective design increases compliance with disaster warnings. The Interactive Social-Cognitive Model (ISC) was developed to describe social-cognitive factors that influence compliance to warnings, but it has not been empirically tested (Kalsher & Williams, 2006). The present study examines factors proposed in the ISC to assess one resident's non-compliance to a tornado warning. Systematic analysis suggests that general cognitive factors such as the resident's job responsibility, prior experience, and normalcy bias were more critical to the non-compliance decision than social factors alone; however, social factors suggest opportunities for modifying the perceived context to motivate compliance. Discussion of these factors proposes opportunities for designing response strategies and safe places that invite and positively reinforce compliance disaster warnings by many residents. Copyright 2013 by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Inc.