Matthew S. Davis, Ph.D.

Dr. Davis earned his BA in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, his MA in Experimental Social Psychology and his doctoral degree in the interdisciplinary field of Social Ecology with a focus on both Social Psychology and on the geological processes that create earthquakes and volcanoes. After teaching at several campuses of the California State University system, Dr. Davis has taught at Dominican since 1994. He regularly teaches courses in social psychology, social influence, statistics and research, human sexuality, media psychology, and a specialty course called Natural Disasters: Societal & Individual Reactions to Risk. He completed two large-scale research projects on public awareness of volcanic hazards in the vicinity of Mt. Vesuvius in Italy, as well as studies of risk perception for volcanic hazards at Mt. Rainier, Washington, and tsunami hazards along the northern California coast. Most recently he conducted an evaluation of the psychological effects of participating in the "Get Ready Marin" disaster preparedness training sessions that were offered in Marin County in 2007-2008. He is an avid traveler who has visited all 50 of the United States, and has traveled extensively in Europe (including 10 separate trips to Italy), around the Pacific Rim, and to Ecuador and Iceland. Dr. Davis is fairly fluent in Italian, has a passion for photography, displays a knack for finding great restaurants, and is an avid TV buff.

matt davis 2009 Professor - Tenured
Psychology Department
Dominican University of California
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 257-0198
campus e-mail: davis@domican.edu

Academic Background:

B.A., Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, June, 1980
M.A., Experimental Social Psychology, College of William and Mary, June, 1982
Ph.D., Social Ecology, University of California Irvine, December 1990

Teaching and Research Interests

Classes regularly taught: Social Psychology, Social Influence, Statistics for Health & Behavioral Sciences, Directed Research, Human Sexuality, Media Psychology, and a specialty course called Natural Disasters: Societal & Individual Reactions to Risk.

Selected Publications

Barberi, F., Davis, M.S., Isaia, R., Nave, R. & Ricci, T. (2008). Volcanic risk perception in the Vesuvius population, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 172, Issues 3-4, May 2008, p. 244-258.
Davis, M.S., Ricci, T. & Mitchell, L. M. (2005). Perceptions of risk for volcanic hazards at Vesuvio and Etna, Italy. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies 2005:1, http://www.massey.ac.nz/~trauma/issues/2005-1/davis.htm.
Davis, M.S. & Ricci, T. (2004). Perceptions of risk for volcanic hazards in Italy: A research note. International Journal of Sociology & Social Policy, 24 (10), 157 – 163.

Selected Presentations

Davis, M.S. (2008). Community-based disaster preparedness training: Impact on citizens, Paper presented at the 88th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Irvine, CA., April 11, 2008.
Davis, M.S., Barberi, F., Isaia, R., Nave, R. & Ricci, T. (2007). Volcanic risk perception in the Vesuvius population. Poster presented at Cities on Volcanoes 5, Shimabara, Japan, November 18-23, 2007.
Johnston, D.M., Davis, M.S., & Becker, J. (2007). Community understanding of the lahar risk around Mount Rainier, USA. Poster presented at Cities on Volcanoes 5, Shimabara, Japan, November 18-23, 2007.
Davis, M.S., Johnston, D.M, & Becker, J. (2007). Risk perception, warning systems and evacuation plans for volcanic hazards. Paper presented at the 87th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, May 5, 2007, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Davis, M., Ricci, T. & Mitchell, L. M. (2006). Awareness of volcanic hazards and perceptions of risk among communities surrounding Etna and Vesuvio, Italy. Paper presented at Cities on Volcanoes 4, Quito, Ecuador, January 23 - 27, 2006.
Davis, M. (2006). Tsunami awareness on the coast of northern California. Poster presented at Cities on Volcanoes 4, Quito, Ecuador, January 23 - 27, 2006.
Davis, M.S. (2004). Perception of risk for volcanic hazards in Italy. Paper presented at the 112th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 1, 2004, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Davis, M.S. (2003). An interdisciplinary approach to teaching a course on Natural Disaster. Paper Presentation at Cities on Volcanoes 3 Conference, July 15, 2003, Hilo, Hawaii.

Research Interests

My masters thesis concerned attributions of blame toward victims of earthquakes. For my doctoral work, my focus became more applied and was focused on perceptions of risk and levels of earthquake preparedness among residents of southern California.

In 2003 I conducted an initial study of the public's perceptions of risk from volcanic hazards at both Vesuvio and Etna in Italy. In 2006 I was involved in a more in-depth, follow-up study of over 4,000 residents of metropolitan Naples. Last year I completed research on public awareness of and response to tsunami hazards in northern California in collaboration with the Marin County Sheriff's Department Office of Emergency Services as well as a study of public perceptions of risk for volcanic mudflow and debris flow hazards at Mt. Rainier, Washington in collaboration with colleagues from GNS Science, New Zealand. Most recently I conducted a study evaluating the psychological impact of participation in the Get Ready Marin disaster preparedness program that has recently been implemented in Marin County.

Other topics of interest to me include a variety of issues in social psychology and human sexuality, media influences on attitudes and behavior, and social influence tactics.

Last updated: Feb 25, 2009.