Vol.76 No.2 (2024)
Contents
Research Note
SHICHIRI Hiroshi
Generic Unit Model of Field Survey Methods for Junior High School Social Studies Incorporating a Geographical Excursion (91)
Focus
UCHIYAMA Kotoe
The Research Trends Regarding the Social Vulnerability Index and Problems Associated with its Implementation in Japan: The Usefulness of the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI) (111)
Book Reviews (128)
Miscellany (146)
Notice (148)
Abstract
Generic Unit Model of Field Survey Methods for Junior High School Social Studies Incorporating a Geographical Excursion
SHICHIRI Hiroshi
Oikami Junior High School; Graduate Student, Joint Graduate School in Science of School Education, Hyogo University of Teacher Education
Field survey learning has not yet been adequately practiced. It has been proposed that geographical excursions of approximately one credit hour should be incorporated to improve learning. This study proposes a feasible and effective model for geographical excursion learning in the hope that more schools will include the field survey methods in junior high school social studies. This model includes a geographical excursion. The issues identified in previous studies, such as time reduction, geographic specialization, learning effectiveness, nationwide applicability, and curriculum continuity, should be extracted and considered. As the strategies are based on these points, this study proposes a generic field survey method model consisting of a three-hour unit, including a one-hour geographical excursion. These strategies aim to help students acquire geographical skills to understand the regional characteristics of familiar areas using topographical maps and landscapes. Furthermore, they will improve students’ knowledge of geography and its regional characteristics. After practicing in classes based on this model, worksheets and regular tests were analyzed to demonstrate the degree of learning effectiveness. Most students acquired qualities and abilities related to geographical expertise in reading regional characteristics. The learning effectiveness of the model was confirmed, thus indicating that this method is highly feasible. However, cases in which the qualities and abilities related to geographical expertise decline over time have also been discussed in previous studies. Therefore, the continuity of such a curriculum is necessary. Familiar areas drawn from geographical excursions should therefore be covered in future social and integrated studies and other curricula.
Key words: junior high school social studies, field survey methods unit, field survey, geographical excursion, generic unit model
The Research Trends Regarding the Social Vulnerability Index and Problems Associated with its Implementation in Japan:
The Usefulness of the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI)
UCHIYAMA Kotoe
Faculty of Education, Shinshu University
In this study, we focused on SoVI, the most widely used and referenced social vulnerability indicator and framework for quantitatively and spatially assessing social vulnerability related to disasters, presented some corresponding research trends, and discussed various aspects regarding the problems related to SoVI implementation in Japan. In general, the concept of vulnerability is theorized in disaster research as “highly vulnerable places and groups are more susceptible to disasters” and reportedly manifests in spatial differences related to damage occurrence and recovery situations. Multiple studies have previously recognized the importance of indexing social vulnerability to disasters from a comprehensive perspective and also examining their spatial distribution. However, only a few examples of its application in Japan are currently available. This is due to the fact that disaster mitigation policy in Japan generally involves hazard- and built environment-based risk distribution and welfare support for specific vulnerable individuals and groups as well as partly because of the limited availability of variables representing socio-economic conditions at the micro level in Japan. However, as indexing allows for regional and interannual comparisons of vulnerable geospatial areas, SoVI could therefore be positioned as a useful tool for visualizing potential disaster prevention challenges. Therefore, considering vulnerability based on both location and hazard-specific spatial assessment methods may help to make significant advances in this field of study.
Key words: social vulnerability, SoVI, index, research of disaster, disaster mitigation