Effect of Attitudes, Habit and Affective Appraisal on Mode Choice: An Application to University Workers

Although a random utility framework is often used in studying automobile use and modal choice, this framework has been criticized for its poor characterization of human behavior and the weakness of its assumptions. Socio-psychological factors could help improve understanding of the choice process. This paper uses attitudinal theory and its link to human behavior to select attitudes, habit and affective appraisals as explanatory variables. These variables were measured using ad-hoc instruments which were combined with a revealed preference questionnaire in order to obtain information about the traveler and the chosen mode. This instrument was applied to a sample of staff members of the University of Concepcion, Chile. Analyses of attitudinal variables showed that car use habit was positively correlated to attitude and positive emotions towards car, implying that breaking the vicious circle of car use through persuasive techniques might be difficult. Estimation of discrete choice models showed that attitudinal variables presented a significant contribution to modal utility, and helped to improve both fitness and statistical significance. The findings demonstrate that choice can be influenced by psychological as well as socioeconomic factors.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-008-9168-6
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00494488
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board in January 2008.
• Authors:
  • Domarchi, Cristian
  • Tudela, Alejandro
  • Gonzalez, Angelica
• Publication Date: 2008-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 585-599
• Serial:
  • Transportation
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Springer
  • ISSN: 0049-4488
  • EISSN: 1572-9435
  • Serial URL: http://link.springer.com/journal/11116

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobile travel; Choice models; Mode choice; Psychological aspects; Revealed preferences; Social factors; Travel behavior; Universities and colleges
• Uncontrolled Terms: Habits
• Geographic Terms: Chile
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01110775
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 24 2008 10:37AM