How do you conduct transportation planning research like a pro?

1 Define your research question

The first step in any research project is to define your research question. This is the problem or issue that you want to address, explore, or answer with your research. Your research question should be clear, specific, and relevant to your field of interest. It should also be feasible, meaning that you have the resources, data, and methods to answer it. A good way to formulate your research question is to use the PICOT framework, which stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time. For example, a PICOT research question for transportation planning could be: How does the introduction of bike lanes affect the traffic safety, mode choice, and travel behavior of residents in a medium-sized city over a one-year period?

2 Review the literature

The next step is to review the existing literature on your topic. This means finding, reading, and synthesizing the relevant sources that have been published by other researchers, such as books, journal articles, reports, and websites. The purpose of the literature review is to provide the background and context for your research question, identify the gaps and limitations in the current knowledge, and justify the significance and originality of your research. A good way to conduct a literature review is to use a systematic approach, which involves defining your search terms, criteria, and sources, screening and selecting the relevant sources, extracting and analyzing the key information, and organizing and presenting your findings.

3 Choose your research design and methods

The third step is to choose your research design and methods. This means deciding how you will collect, analyze, and interpret your data to answer your research question. Your research design and methods depend on your research purpose, question, and hypothesis, as well as the availability and quality of data. There are different types of research designs and methods for transportation planning research, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, experiments, simulations, models, and case studies. You should choose the research design and methods that best suit your research objectives, scope, and limitations, and that are consistent with the ethical and professional standards of your field.

4 Implement your research plan

The fourth step is to implement your research plan. This means carrying out the data collection and analysis according to your research design and methods. You should follow the procedures and protocols that you have established in your research plan, and document your progress and challenges along the way. You should also ensure the validity, reliability, and credibility of your data and analysis, by using appropriate techniques and tools, such as sampling, measurement, coding, testing, verification, and validation. You should also be prepared to deal with any issues or problems that may arise during your data collection and analysis, such as missing or inaccurate data, technical difficulties, ethical dilemmas, or unexpected results.

5 Communicate your research results

The final step is to communicate your research results. This means presenting and reporting your data and analysis in a clear, concise, and coherent way that answers your research question and meets the expectations and requirements of your audience. You should use different formats and media to communicate your research results, such as tables, graphs, maps, charts, diagrams, photos, videos, and infographics. You should also use different channels and platforms to disseminate your research results, such as journals, conferences, workshops, webinars, blogs, podcasts, and social media. You should also consider the feedback and comments that you receive from your audience, and use them to improve your research quality and impact.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?