Ohakune asked to help in eruption effects study

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 15, Issue 694, 8 July 1997, Page 7

Ohakune asked to help in eruption effects study

Ohakune people are to be asked this week to fill in a survey about how the recent eruptions of Mt Ruapehu have affected their lives. The survey is being conducted by Marian Millar, a post-graduate student at Massey University, presently completing a Master of Arts degree in industrial and organisational psychology. As part of this degree, she writing a thesis on the social and psychological effects of the eruptions of Mt Ruapehu over the past

two years on the community members of Ohakune. "The eruptions of Mt Ruapehu over the past two years provide a unique and exciting research environment and the chance to examine, first-hand, how a community has responded to the effects of volcanic eruption," said Ms Millar. "It is essential that I collect attitudes and opinions of the local population to complete this research," said Ms Millar, asking that people complete the survey that they will find in their letterboxes this week.

"Even though this is a social and psychological survey, it in no way implies that those who participate in this study are mentally ill. Psychology is the study of human behaviour, and this is as wide and as varied as the individuals from where it comes. This study intends to measure the response of the community as a whole to the effects that the eruptions have had upon their community and local environment." She explains that results of this study are intended to benefit the Ohakune com-

munity by identifying necessary community resources and establishing these within the community if they do not already exist. "Of course, the accuracy of the results depends upon the truthfulness of the response to the survey questions, and the number of people who respond. The more people who complete the questionnaire, the more accurate the results, the greater the benefits for the community," added Marian. The only requirement for the completion of the questionnaire is that the participants are full-time residents of Ohakune and have lived here since the first eruptions in 1995. Participants will be asked to complete the survey once now and again in 3-4 months' time. She explained that individuals' results will be completely confidential and that the research complies with the standards set by the Massey University Ethics Board. A summary of the research findings will be made available through the Ruapehu Bulletin and a pamphlet sent to all those who take part.