Influence of sociocultural factors on the perception of disaster risk in rural communities of Murillo, Tolima
Laura Gisella Gómez Sotelo, Gloria Yaneth Florez YepesPurpose
This study aimed to analyse the influence of sociocultural factors on volcanic risk perception in the rural community of La Cabaña, Murillo (Tolima, Colombia), exposed to the Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a convergent mixed-methods approach in which qualitative analysis constituted the primary analytical strategy. Semi-structured interviews were analysed through thematic analysis in ATLAS.ti, complemented by field observations and Likert-scale questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, exploratory Pearson correlations and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were used to identify patterns and prioritise the relative importance of sociocultural factors.
Findings
Qualitative findings consistently identified previous disaster experiences as the factor most strongly shaping volcanic risk perception. Exploratory quantitative analyses showed a similar pattern, with previous experiences receiving the highest AHP weight (32.83%). Local knowledge, beliefs and educational level also showed patterns consistent with the idea that collective memory, cultural knowledge and experiential learning contribute to shaping community risk perception.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted in a single rural community with a small sample, limiting statistical inference and the broader generalisation of findings.
Practical implications
The findings provide practical guidance for designing community-based risk management strategies and educational processes from an intercultural perspective.
Social implications
The study suggests that volcanic risk perception is socially constructed through cultural knowledge, collective memory and previous experiences rather than technical information alone, highlighting the importance of participatory and community-based disaster risk management.
Originality/value
Unlike most studies that emphasise psychological or technical determinants of risk perception, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach in which qualitative findings are complemented by exploratory quantitative analyses to examine how sociocultural factors shape volcanic risk perception in a rural community exposed to volcanic hazards.