Experiments with Computerized Self-Administrative Activity Survey

Abstract

The process of activity scheduling is crucial to the understanding of travel behavior changes. In-depth research is urgently needed to unearth this process. A new computer program, REACT!, was developed to collect household activity scheduling data for this purpose. The program is implemented as a stand-alone program with Internet connectivity for remote data transmission. It also contains a geographic information system for location identification and a special feature that traces the decisions in the scheduling process. A pilot study was conducted in Irvine, California, to evaluate the program’s performance. Preliminary analysis validated the program’s capability of guiding participants to complete data entry tasks on their own; thus, the objective of reducing the cost of human resources for such a computerized survey is achieved. Other positive results were obtained regarding the objectives of reducing instrumental biases and expanding program capabilities. Areas for improvement were identified in the pilot study. On the basis of the findings, REACT! represents an ideal platform for a computerized household survey that can produce data for activity-based travel models.

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