Investigating Diffusion of Relationships between ICT and Travel Behaviour by Pooling Independent Cross-Sectional Data across Time

To date, only a handful of studies have attempted to investigate changes in the interactions between Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and travel behaviour over time, due to the lack of suitable datasets as well as the rapidly evolving characteristics of the ICT sector. This shortcoming is addressed in this paper by developing a methodology for pooling independently collected cross-sectional datasets across time (PICSaT), using the UK Opinions and Lifestyle Survey from the period between 2005 and 2010. While the data contain limited information on ICT use and travel behaviour, it is sufficient to construct a number of composite indices describing participation in tele- activities and travel behaviour. Such variables are used to estimate a multi-group system of structural equations with each wave of data treated as a separate group of observations. Furthermore, mediation analysis is used as a link to the theory of innovation diffusion demonstrating how particular segments of population can be defined as early or late adopters of particular pattern of ICT and travel behaviour interaction. The empirical results revealed that young to mid-age, well-educated, and employed males with good access to ICT facilities are early adopters of reduced work-related travel, reduced travel during peak or increased tele-shopping as a result of adoption of tele-conferencing and tele-services, or more non-work-related travel respectively. From the methodological point of view, the PICSaT approach was shown to provide a feasible solution for situations where longitudinal data may not be readily available while simultaneous interrelations between variables require systemic approach.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB20 Effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Travel Choices.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Pawlak, Jacek
  • Polak, John W
  • Sivakumar, Aruna
  • Gann, David
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 21p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cross sectional studies; Data analysis; Structural equation modeling; Telecommunications; Time duration; Travel behavior
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01556889
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-2026
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 13 2015 8:57AM