Increasing traffic is responsible for climate change and related problems such as noise and health consequences, and the car is one of the most favored means of transport for individual travel. Thus, traffic should become more sustainable. The objective of the thesis is to investigate to what extent statements made by the respondents about a hypothetical situation correspond to their actual behavior. For this purpose, a conjoint analysis approach will be applied.
The EBM model of 1995 was chosen as the theoretical basis. Here, the focus was put on the stages "environmental influences", "individual differences", "evaluation of alternatives" and on "choice”. Socio-demographic data, information on current travel status, live situation, mental state and experienced feelings while traveling with the current transport mode, and aspects of personality were collected, further, respondents could choose between other transport modes than the car in two hypothetical situations, the non-choice option was also possible. A total of n=918 people participated in the web-based survey, which was conducted in Poland between December 2021 and March 2022. The data was analyzed by Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS V.3. The results show that mental state/experienced feelings while traveling by current mode, transport policy instruments, driver's license ownership, car sharing experience, and gender have a significant influence on transportation mode choice and current travel behavior. Thus, psychological processes are important factors to consider in sustainable transportation planning.
Table of Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER 1 Challenges of Mobility
1.1. The Genesis and Consequences of Car-Based Mobility Systems
1.2. Sustainability and Sustainable Mobility
1.3. Sustainable Mobility of Today and the Future
CHAPTER 2 Rationality and Irrationality
2.1. Behavioral Decision Making
2.2. Socio-Cognitive Models
2.3. Models Focusing on Habits and Feelings
2.4. Norms and Prosocial Behavior
2.5. Behavior and the Acceptance of Innovations
2.6. Five Psychological Perspectives Explaining Behavior
2.7. Human Motivation Directing Behavior
2.8. Personality and Emotions Directing Behavior
CHAPTER 3 Methodology
3.1. Preference Theories and Variants of Conjoint Analysis
3.2. Discussion of the Variants of the Conjoint Analysis
3.3. Modeling Strategies and Estimation Techniques
3.4. Discussion of the Modeling Strategies and Estimation Techniques
3.5. Study Design
3.6. Data Collection and Sampling
CHAPTER 4 Results
4.1. Results on Socio-Demographics and Travel Aspects
4.2. Results on Experienced Feelings (Mental State and Life Circumstances)
4.3. Results related to Life Situation and Mental State (Experienced Feelings)
4.4. Results on Attitudes and Personality and PLS-SEM Model
Conclusions
References
Research Objectives and Themes
The thesis explores the extent to which respondents' stated preferences in hypothetical transit scenarios align with their actual daily transportation behavior. The study specifically investigates the influence of economic, social, and psychological factors on mode choice among Polish citizens, utilizing the Engel-Blackwell-Miniard (EBM) framework to understand drivers of sustainable and non-sustainable travel habits.
- The impact of psychological states and experienced feelings on daily commute mode choice.
- The role of policy instruments, such as employer incentives and penalties, in driving the transition to sustainable transport.
- The influence of personal attributes, including driver's license possession, car-sharing experience, and gender, on travel behavior.
- Application of the Conjoint Analysis method and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to validate behavioral hypotheses.
- Evaluation of habits and personality traits in the context of persistent car dependency.
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1.1. The Genesis and Consequences of Car-Based Mobility Systems
The way people live their lives is characterized by individuality. Mobility is an important prerequisite for self-fulfillment, fulfilling professional and private desires, and participating in social life and social progress. People do not want to do without individual mobility, so cars will still play an important role in 2040, as it guarantees temporal and spatial flexibility (Rauch, 2013).
The following subchapter describes the evolution of mass mobility and its consequences in the EU and specifically Poland. The following elements are presented:
- Automotive history
- Share of passenger transport by car
- Passenger car registrations
- Road and railway safety
- Air pollution
- Traffic noise
- Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and outlook
The invention of the automobile in 1886 can be seen as the beginning of the age of mobility. Even before this breakthrough invention, there were many attempts and ideas to develop a vehicle that moved without the use of animal or muscle power. In 1769, the French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot developed a three-wheeled steam car based on the principle of James Watt's steam engine. The internal combustion engine then prevailed over steam propulsion with Lenoir's 1860 illuminated gas engine. German inventor Nikolaus Otto then invented, on the basis of the Lenoir engine, the Otto Engine in 1876. In 1885, Gottfried Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach designed the first motorcycle with a gasoline engine. A year later, in 1886, fellow German Carl Benz developed the first vehicle with a gas engine, and Daimler the first vehicle with a gasoline engine. In 1910, Zwickau-based Audi introduced the first branded car, the “Type A”. In the following 1920s, automobile manufacturing established itself as a new branch of industry; in 1929, 608,342 motorcycles and 422,612 cars were already counted in the German Reich. After the end of the World War 2, the automobile was well on its way to becoming a means of mass transport (Wenzlaff, 2011).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1 Challenges of Mobility: Discusses the historical development of car-based society, the environmental impacts of mass transit, and global sustainability efforts.
CHAPTER 2 Rationality and Irrationality: Examines decision-making theories, distinguishing between rational choice theory and habit-based, emotional, and socio-cognitive drivers of behavior.
CHAPTER 3 Methodology: Explains the application of Conjoint Analysis and PLS-SEM modeling to analyze psychological and economic factors influencing transport behavior.
CHAPTER 4 Results: Presents the statistical findings of the survey in Poland, detailing demographic profiles, travel habits, and the influence of incentives and penalties on mode switching.
Keywords
EBM Model, Choice Based Conjoint, Experienced Feelings, PLS-SEM, Transport, Sustainability, Behavioral Economics, Rational Choice, Habits, Road Safety, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), Autonomous Driving, Policy Instruments, Personality Traits, Big Five.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this PhD dissertation?
The research investigates the influence of economic, social, and psychological factors on the transport behavior of Polish citizens, specifically analyzing whether stated intentions in hypothetical situations reflect real-world travel behavior.
Which theoretical model forms the foundation of the research?
The Engel-Blackwell-Miniard (EBM) model is used as the primary theoretical framework to conceptualize the consumer decision-making process within a travel context.
What primary methodology is utilized to analyze the data?
The study employs Conjoint Analysis (a stated preference method) and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to perform path analysis and model fitting.
Which role do policy instruments play in the study?
Policy instruments, categorized as punishments (e.g., higher fuel costs) and incentives (e.g., employer support for public transit), are analyzed to determine their effectiveness in inducing a shift toward more sustainable transport modes.
Does the dissertation find that personality traits influence transport choice?
Yes, the research incorporates variables like risk-taking tendencies and the Big Five personality traits to test for correlations with preferred transportation choices and responses to policy changes.
How is "mental state" defined in the context of transport behavior?
Mental states, often referred to as "experienced feelings," are conceptualized as pleasant or unpleasant states (e.g., flow, relaxation, anxiety, boredom) linked to travel experience, building on concepts from Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory.
What specific finding regarding employer incentives does the study highlight?
The study indicates that financial incentives provided by employers for non-personal transport options can significantly shift behavior for certain demographics, though many respondents remain hesitant to abandon private car usage.
What does the study conclude about the role of habit in transportation?
It concludes that habitual behavior acts as a critical barrier to change, noting that rational considerations are often bypassed by routine travel patterns, which makes interventions designed to change travel behavior complex and difficult.
- Citation du texte
- Cordula Welte-Bardtholdt (Auteur), 2022, The Effect of Economic, Social and Psychological Factors on Transport Behavior of Polish Citizens. A Conjoint Analysis Approach, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1337271
