Exploring information seeking pathways of inhabitants about cyclones: a mixed method approach

Abstract

The study explores the information needs, information source selection and barriers in information seeking of the residents regarding cyclones. Fifty semi-structured interviews and 471 questionnaires yielded data from the population sample of Sundarbans, a coastal region of West Bengal, India. Findings show that after receiving the warnings, respondents preferred to depend on human sources and, to some extent, media sources for alert verification and confirmation. Human sources were most trusted in informal discussion for subsequent information seeking to pursue informed decisions against cyclones.