Improving disaster response through the science of work

The effectiveness of a disaster response effort is heavily reliant upon the disaster responders themselves. When disaster workers are unqualified or unsuited for the work or are poorly trained, the effectiveness of the disaster response will be greatly reduced. Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology is a field of study which specializes in the science of work, using research-based interventions to address worker and workplace challenges. The integration of I-O Psychology into disaster response research and practice holds significant promise in improving disaster response work by addressing labor issues commonly faced in disaster response settings. This article illustrates two areas in which I-O Psychology can be used to improve disaster worker outcomes: worker selection and team training.