The quantifications of passengers’ perceptions in response to bus deregulation

This paper takes as its basis the need to accurately quantify passengers’ perceptions. The effects of bus deregulation cannot be viewed as simple ‘before’ and ‘after’ events, therefore the quantification of perceptions becomes an exercise in determining relative changes over time. In addition, the necessity to establish those particular aspects of bus services which have been perceived to change over time leads into multi-dimensional techniques. Attention is focused on the rating scales and semantic differential techniques. The discussion is set within the context of extensive perception studies undertaken during the monitoring of the initial effects of bus deregulation in Scotland. Data is derived from three main sources; a postal attitude survey carried out by the Scottish Development Department, surveys of passengers’ perceptions undertaken as part of the Newcastle University Scottish Bus Deregulation monitoring programme, and from subsequent fieldwork carried out by the author.