ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book revisits the notion of ethics within the application of various research designs. It discusses some other general issues that should be considered before engaging in the research process. The book covers various sampling strategies and the use of various samples in disaster and emergency management research. It provides readers with a brief exposure to the theoretical underpinnings of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research. The book discusses the investigation of vulnerable populations in disaster and emergency management research. It explores strategies that researchers should think about and can use to engage in research more successfully with vulnerable populations. The book provides a brief exposure to statistical modeling. It argues that although qualitative and quantitative methods have their own unique advantages and challenges, developing more holistic answers to research questions requires the use of mixed method approaches.
