Exploring Carsharing Usage Motives: A Hierarchical Means-end Chain Analysis

Tobias Schaefers

doi:10.1016/j.tra.2012.10.024

Exploring Carsharing Usage Motives: A Hierarchical Means-end Chain Analysis

Tobias Schaefers^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Recently, carsharing has entered a phase of commercial mainstreaming as carsharing providers and urban transportation planners aim at broadening the customer base. In this context, knowledge about the motives of carsharing usage is essential for further growth. Based on a qualitative means-end chain analysis this paper therefore explores usage motives, thus expanding the existing insights from analyses of usage behavior. In a series of laddering interviews with users of a US carsharing service, the underlying hierarchical motive structure is uncovered and four motivational patterns are identified: value-seeking, convenience, lifestyle, and environmental motives. Implications are drawn for applying these insights.

Original language	English
Journal	Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
Volume	47
Pages (from-to)	69-77
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0965-8564
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2012.10.024
Publication status	Published - Jan 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Carsharing
Cognition
Consumer behavior
Laddering
Means-end chain
Qualitative method

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Exploring Carsharing Usage Motives: A Hierarchical Means-end Chain Analysis",

abstract = "Recently, carsharing has entered a phase of commercial mainstreaming as carsharing providers and urban transportation planners aim at broadening the customer base. In this context, knowledge about the motives of carsharing usage is essential for further growth. Based on a qualitative means-end chain analysis this paper therefore explores usage motives, thus expanding the existing insights from analyses of usage behavior. In a series of laddering interviews with users of a US carsharing service, the underlying hierarchical motive structure is uncovered and four motivational patterns are identified: value-seeking, convenience, lifestyle, and environmental motives. Implications are drawn for applying these insights.",

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AB - Recently, carsharing has entered a phase of commercial mainstreaming as carsharing providers and urban transportation planners aim at broadening the customer base. In this context, knowledge about the motives of carsharing usage is essential for further growth. Based on a qualitative means-end chain analysis this paper therefore explores usage motives, thus expanding the existing insights from analyses of usage behavior. In a series of laddering interviews with users of a US carsharing service, the underlying hierarchical motive structure is uncovered and four motivational patterns are identified: value-seeking, convenience, lifestyle, and environmental motives. Implications are drawn for applying these insights.

KW - Carsharing

KW - Cognition

KW - Consumer behavior

KW - Laddering

KW - Means-end chain

KW - Qualitative method

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DO - 10.1016/j.tra.2012.10.024

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SP - 69

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JO - Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

JF - Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

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