The Role of Social Networks and ICT on Destination Choice - FY08 TechPlan
Principal Investigator:
David Levinson, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Project Summary:
This research is investigating the impact of traditional social networks and information and communications technology (ICT) on travelers' destination choice. The extent to which social networks and information and communication technologies affect where destinations are located is an area that is gaining more focus. This research focuses on two areas of interest. The first is the role that social networks and communication technologies play in establishing individuals in long-term arrangements such as finding their work. The second is the role that social networks play in day-to-day activities that individuals choose to engage in outside of work. By using a survey about how people identified their current job, the physical locations of their social activity destinations, and the social networks and communication technologies they adopt to mediate these long-term and short-term decisions, this study aims to advance the researchers' understanding of the role of social networks in everyday travel decisions. Thus far, a two-phase survey has been designed and administered to over 500 participants. In addition to data on work-finding mechanisms, detailed data on travel for different social activities including precise activity location, time, and purpose as well as relationship and individual characteristics, have been collected. The researchers hope to understand the behavior of social travel and to develop models that incorporate important elements of social networks and ICT for different trip purposes.
Sponsors:
- ITS Institute (RITA)
Project Details:
- Start date: 07/2007
- Project Status: Completed
- Research Area: Planning and Environment