ICT and social interaction : modeling communication mode choice and its effect on travel behavior: 12th International Conference on Travel Behaviour Research (IATBR 2009), December 13-18, 2009, Jaipur, India

The widespread use of ICT’s has provided new ways of communicating and is therefore likely to affect the way in which people interact with each other. In turn, this may have an effect on individuals’ social activity-travel behavior. Recently, research into the effect of ICT on travel for social activities has started to emerge. This paper contributes to this line of research. It describes the results of analyses based on data gathered in the Netherlands. The framework of analysis consists of a set of regression models to predict communication mode choice for social interaction, preceded by statistical models of the number of initiated social interactions, the purpose of the interaction, and the social category of and the distance to the home location of the contacted person. The results indicate that in particular personal and household characteristics and social characteristics have a significant effect on the social interaction variables. In the analysis of communication mode choice, the earlier analyzed social interaction variables show significant effects as well.