The relation between travel behaviour, ICT usage and social networks. The design of a web based survey

The relatively recent developments in Information and Telecommunication Technologies (ICT) arose the interest of both researchers and policymakers about how these technologies could shape travel. Several hypotheses have been put forward relating the use of ICT and travel behaviour. These include substitution of travel; complementarity or induction; modification or neutrality. This topic has been the subject of relevant research efforts, with a strong focus on the role of telecommuting as a way to reduce travel and its negative environmental impacts. The relation between ICT usage and other motives of travel have not been so thoroughly researched. One of these is social travel. More recent technological developments, in particular the development of the Web 2.0 and social media, as well as the dissemination of smartphones and related web applications increase the potential usefulness of ICT to influence social travel behaviour. Particularly relevant in this context is the study of the role of social networks and their characteristics in influencing mobility patterns. The work presented here is the design of a web-based survey aimed at studying the relations between ICT and social media usage, social networks and social travel. The survey was designed to be applied to university students, because they are stronger users of social media and ICT devices. Specifically, it aims to investigate a series of potential research questions related with the effect of ICT on social travel, its interaction with social networks, and, how the perception of its usefulness influences its usage. The survey structure and its relations with the previous literature in these subjects are presented. Finally, the results from a pilot already implemented in 3 cities Lisbon, Granada and Zagreb are presented and its role on the validation of the survey structure is discussed. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.