User Satisfaction Survey on Public Transport by a New PAHP Based Model

Sarbast Moslem,Szabolcs Duleba

doi:10.3390/app112110256

Sarbast Moslem, Szabolcs Duleba

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110256

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Abstract

There is an obvious trade-off between information obtained from passenger surveys and cost and time investment. This paper offers a new approach for this problem and its detailed step-by-step procedure description. Parsimonious Analytic Hierarchy Process (PAHP) is a recently created methodology that combines the simplicity of direct evaluations with the consistency and reliability of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In the paper, the first large sample survey of passenger satisfaction by a new, PAHP-based model and procedure is presented as a case study. Moreover, a comparison with an AHP survey on the same public transport system and the same pattern are demonstrated. Since the comparative analysis produced a strong correlation between AHP and PAHP outcomes, it can be stated that the new procedure is less time consuming and costly than the AHP, while possessing the same benefits, and thus, it is more trustworthy than satisfaction measured by direct evaluations. Consequently, our proposed model can be applied both in theoretical and practical cases. Theoretically, it solves the problem of avoiding the use of large pairwise comparison matrices, and practically, it is a useful support to public satisfaction surveys, especially in the transportation sector.

Highlights

Surveying the passengers has become an integrated part of transport policy in recent years
Since the comparative analysis produced a strong correlation between Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Parsimonious Analytic Hierarchy Process (PAHP) outcomes, it can be stated that the new procedure is less time consuming and costly than the AHP, while possessing the same benefits, and it is more trustworthy than satisfaction measured by direct evaluations
This paper aims to contribute to the existing scientific literature by introducing a new, multi-level Parsimonious Analytic Hierarchy Process (PAHP) model which reduces survey duration significantly but still ensures validity of the responses by an in-built consistency check provided by an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) phase

Summary

Introduction

Surveying the passengers has become an integrated part of transport policy in recent years. Conflicting objectives have to be considered for the decision makers of the transport policy. Responses should be detailed and suitable for and in-depth analysis, be consistent and reliable; long questionnaires and personal interviews are suggested. Both requirements cannot be fulfilled simultaneously in many cases due to budget and duration limitations. Theory has discovered this conflict and models have emerged that endeavor to balance the complexity of the questionnaires (detailed surveys) and the validity and reliability of the responses (short, simple surveys)

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