Response bias in onboard questionnaire surveys
Document Type
Conference Paper
Publication Date
2009
Subject Area
planning - surveys
Abstract
Self completion questionnaires distributed onboard trains or buses offer transport operators and planners a cost-effective way to know their market. However, getting an unbiased sample can be troublesome if passengers with certain characteristics are more difficult to intercept or less willing to complete a questionnaire than others.
This paper first looks at response rate issues and makes referenced to a review by the Transit Research Board (2005) of onboard surveys. The bulk of the paper then uses a 2004 survey of Wellington rail passengers that monitored questionnaire refusal and interception rates to show that systematic biases can exist. A factoring approach is then presented that reduced the bias in the sample.
Recommended Citation
Douglas, N. (2009). Response bias in onboard questionnaire surveys. Proceedings of the 32nd Australasian transport research forum (ATRF), http://www.patrec.org/web_docs/atrf/papers/2009/1784_paper160-Douglas.pdf
