A Q Methodological Approach to Exploring Fire Safety Perception Types among Fire Safety Major University Students

This study applied the Q methodology to classify and analyze the perception types on fire safety among 59 students majoring in Architectural Fire Safety at a university located in Gyeonggi Province. The analysis identified five distinct perception types: “Proactive Prevention-Oriented,” “Norm-Accepting Responsibility-Oriented,” “Judgment-Based Response-Oriented,” “Caution-Avoidant Passive,” and “Quick-Evacuation Reactive.” These findings empirically demonstrate that university students’ perceptions on fire safety are not uniform or one-dimensional but rather structured diversely based on subjectivity and value orientation. The types exhibited notable differences in attitudes, sense of responsibility, behavioral approaches, and response patterns, indicating the necessity for fire safety education strategies tailored to each perception type. In particular, this study serves as an empirical case for systematically applying the Q methodology to the field of fire safety education. This study provides valuable theoretical and pedagogical foundations for the future development of practice-based safety education programs and policies, contributing to the enhancement of safety culture in higher education contexts.