Place responsiveness: IPA walking interviews to explore participants’ responses to natural disasters

ABSTRACT

Over the last few years, walking interviews have gained the attention of a variety of disciplines and are considered an effective way to conduct interviews under particular circumstances. In this study, we provide specific examples of the benefits of using walking interviews in the aftermath of an earthquake. Central Italy has recently experienced two significant earthquakes, L’Aquila in 2009 and Amatrice in 2016. In total, more than 600 people were killed. The earthquakes significantly affected both communities due to the loss of houses, workplaces, and recreational facilities.

We describe past research into the walking interview, develop a protocol to explore community issues, and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the technique. The analysis of the walking interviews was conducted with the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Walking interviews have never previously been used in this situation, but examples drawn from the study illustrate their effectiveness. In some situations, perhaps more beneficial than the traditional sitting interview.

KEYWORDS:

• Earthquake
• community
• walking interview
• protocol
• IPA

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Alessandro Sirolli and his assistants Federica Guerra and Michele Della Rosa from the “Associazione 180 Amici” in L’Aquila as well as Marco Margarita from the charity “La Via del Sale” in Amatrice for their support in identifying eligible participants and for their advice.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Danila D’Errico

Danila D’Errico is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. She completed a MSc in Rehabilitation Psychology in 2014. Her primary areas of interests are trauma, earthquake survivors, and community disruption.

Nigel Hunt

Nigel Hunt is an Associate Professor for the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. He is also a docent in Social Psychology at The University of Helsinki. His primary areas of interests are traumatic stress, war, and narrative approach.