Title: Habit Discontinuity and Travel Choices Degree Award: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Year of Presentation: 2016 Candidate: Paul Haggar . SUMMARY OF THESIS: POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREES Please TYPE or write in BLACK ink and use BLOCK capitals SECTION A: TO BE COMPLETED BY THE CANDIDATE AND SUBMITTED WITH THE THESIS Student ID Number: 1038032 Title: Please circle appropriate value Mr/ Miss/ Ms/ Mrs/ Dr/ Rev/ Other, please specify …………… Surname: HAGGAR First Names: PAUL CHRISTIAN School: PSYCHOLOGY Please circle appropriate value Title of Degree: EdD, EngD, DSW, DClinPsy, DHS, MCh, Md, MPhil, MPhil/PhD, MScD by Research, PhD/ Other, please specify ……......... Full Title of Thesis HABIT DISCONTINUITY AND TRAVEL CHOICES Student ID Number: 1038032 Summary of Thesis: If travel choices are made habitually in specific contexts , rather than deliberately , then, when these contexts change (e.g. with moving house), do travellers deliberate over travel choices and, perhaps, make changes? This thesis investigates this idea (the Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis: Verplanken, Wa lker, Davis, & Jurasek, 2008 ). Key litera ture was reviewed and some important research questions identified. To obtain rich, descriptive information about these experiences, a purposive sample ( N = 29) of commuters were interviewed. Thematic analysis of these a ccounts identified two principal themes: choice factors (reasons for travel choices) and experience of travel . Neither habitual travel -choices nor habit discontinuities were described. Instead, participants identified familiar journeys (on frequently -travelled routes) as habitual and life - events as leading to travel -choice change only when impacting travel goals. Two studies investigated university -student travel -mode choice before and after they moved from one term -time accommodation to another. In each study, a group whose accommodation changed was compared to another group whose accommodation didn't change. Both studies showed a small association between moving accommodation and changing travel behaviour (to or from walking to the university). This association was statistically mediated by (a) prior planning and (b) living with new housemates. Automaticity also changed amongst movers as anticipated. However, evidence with respect to the role of values, ease/difficulty of change a nd self -regulation failure/ competing priorities with change was inconclusive. There was also no clear evidence that changes in walking distance with residential relocation accounted for change in walking behaviour with residential relocation. These find ings are discussed with respect to the habit discontinuity hypothesis, as well as other interpretations . DECLARATION i This work has not been submitted in substance for any other degree or award at this or any other university or place of learning , nor is being submitted concurrently in candidature for any degree or other award. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………… STATEMENT 1 This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of …………………………(insert MCh, MD, MPhil, PhD etc, as appropriate) Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………… STATEMENT 2 This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit references. The views expressed are my own. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………… STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available online in the Universit y’s Open Access repository and for inter -library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………… Acknowledgements ii I acknowledge the invaluable advice and encouragement provided by my academic supervisors, Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh and Doctor Steven Skippon. I'd like to acknowledge the kind help of Professor Greg Maio and Doctor Nick Nash for providing supervision during the absence of my primary supervisors and for their help at different stages of the research process. I'd also like to thank Doctor Dimitrios Xenias for the opportunity to work on ongoing related projects in the department. I'd like to express my gratitude to the participants and gatekeepers who helped me with my research. Finally, I'd like to gratefully acknowledge those organisations that funded my research (the ESRC, Cardiff University and Shell Global Solutions), without whose contribution this research, and the learning I've acquired in its pursuit, would not be possible. iii Habit Discontinuity and Travel Choices 1. General Introduction..................................................................................................... 1 2. The Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis: A Literature Review......................................... 3 2.1. Abstract..........................................................................................................3 2.2. Introduction................................................................................................... 3 2.3 A Survey of Habit in Theory.........................................................................12 2.4. Contextual Triggering of Habit....................................................................17 2.5. Habit surpassing motive...............................................................................24 2.6. 'Tunnel Vision' and Information-Based Interventions................................. 28 2.7. Empirical Evidence for the Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis...................... 32 2.8. Habit and Transport-Mode Choice...............................................................42 2.9. Preparing a Qualitative study of habit and habit discontinuity....................43 2.10. The HDH in a Framework of Life-Change............................................... 57 2.11. Conclusions and Research Focus ............................................................ 66 3. Everyday Travel under Stable and Changing Life Circumstances - Commuter Accounts......................................................................................................................... 70 3.1. Abstract........................................................................................................ 70 3.2. Introduction................................................................................................. 70 3.3. Method......................................................................................................... 73 3.4. Findings....................................................................................................... 75 3.5. Discussion.................................................................................................... 90 4 An initial test of the Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis: Values, Habits and Transport- mode Change of Students Changing their Accommodation.......................................... 94 iv 4.1. Abstract........................................................................................................ 94 4.2. Introduction................................................................................................. 95 4.3. Method......................................................................................................... 98 4.4. Results........................................................................................................107 4.5. Discussion.................................................................................................. 123 5. Active Travel-Mode Choice for University Students Changing their Term Time Accommodation: Some Evidence for the Habit Discontinuity Hypothesis................. 126 5.1 Abstract....................................................................................................... 126 5.2 Introduction................................................................................................ 127 5.3. Method....................................................................................................... 134 5.4 Results........................................................................................................ 141 5.5 Discussion................................................................................................... 157 6. General Discussion................................................................................................... 163 6.1 Overview.................................................................................................... 162 6.2. Summary of Research Questions............................................................... 163 6.3. Specific Findings....................................................................................... 164 6.4. Findings in General: Implications and Limitations................................... 172 6.5. Conclusions............................................................................................... 180 References ..................................................................................................................... 183 Appendices ........................................................................................................ 201 Tables and Figures Table 1: Participant Demographics................................................................................ 73 v Table 2: Themes and Subordinate Themes..................................................................... 75 Table 3: Number of People in Participants Household: Baseline and Follow-up.........109