6c Analysis and Feedback of the Survey

Once you have completed your travel survey, you need to analyse, interpret and feed back the results.

Data entry

For small, simple surveys it may be more practical to do the data entry in-house. However for larger numbers of survey forms it may be more cost effective to use a specialist data entry company. The advantage is that a company can enter the data twice to reduce errors. This is known as verifying the data.

Analysis and interpretation

Surveys can be analysed using specialist statistical packages such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences‚ (SPSS‚), which are specifically designed to analyse social surveys, a database or spreadsheet packages.

Alternatively, packages such as Microsoft Access‚ can perform a similar role.

Basic analysis is concerned with frequencies of responses. This will give you the percentage of people answering a question, for example four in five (80%) travel to work by car.

More complex analysis can include cross-tabulating responses by certain key variables such as age, gender, method of travel or department, which means that you can target your initiatives more effectively. Below are some suggestions for cross-tabulations that you might wish to consider.
There are a number of specialist organisations that can analyse data on your behalf.

Postcode Mapping

Mapping the postcodes of respondents provides a clear indication of where your employees are travelling from. By mapping those respondents that are willing to try using the bus or car share, you can determine the potential for new routes, or indicate how many sharers might be matched up to partners.

Feed back your findings

To maintain support for the Plan, and to demonstrate that you have really consulted with staff, you need to provide feedback on the findings of the survey. You can provide feedback by summarising the findings and sending them to staff via payslips, staff newsletters, notice boards or e-mail.

Possible cross-tabulations

• Grade/distance travelled to work
  The lower grade employees are more generally more likely to use public transport – this will suggest the potential for increasing bus use
  
• Age/distance travelled to work
  To suggest the potential for cycling and walking
  
• Willing to car share*/working times
  This will tell us if employees willing to car share are arriving and leaving at similar times of day, and therefore are able to car share
  
• Willing to car share*/need car for work or other purposes
  This will give some indication of how many car sharers will have to be drivers. When combined with the postcode map showing the geographic distribution of potential car sharers, this information should give a more realistic picture of how successful a car sharing scheme might be
  
• Willing to use public transport*/working times
  Will help to identify peak times when improved services might be required
  
• Willing to use public transport*/modal split
  This will give some indication of the modal shift away from the car that might be created by introducing successful public transport initiatives. It can also warn you if public transport measures will be at the expense of cycling or walking
  
• Willing to cycle*/modal split
  As above. You can do the same for walking and homeworking
  
• Willing to homework/grade or salary
  Managers are usually most successful in undertaking homeworking
  

* At least once per week

Raising Awareness
Establishing User Groups
Analysis & Feedback
The Use of Consultants
Travel Plans & Income Tax
Example Questionnaire
Example Registration Form