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Formative and reflective measurement models for analysing transit service quality

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  • Laura Eboli

    (University of Calabria)

  • Carmen Forciniti

    (University of Calabria)

  • Gabriella Mazzulla

    (University of Calabria)

Abstract

Transit service quality is a complex concept depending on different service aspects, such as service frequency and punctuality, comfort, cleanliness, information and so on. Transit service quality is generally measured through the satisfaction of the users with the service. There are relationships between the overall service quality and the different transit service aspects, and between each aspect and the characteristics describing it. Structural equation models represent a useful tool for exploring this kind of relationship and determining the influence of the different service characteristics on service quality. An investigated issue concerning structural equation models is the contrast between the formative and the reflective approach. The structural models proposed for measuring transit service quality have followed a reflective approach, according to which the latent variable (or the service aspect) is the cause of the observed measures (or the service factors describing the service aspect); but in this paper we investigate on the fact that formative variables could be considered to model the relationship among the service quality characteristics, supposing that the observed measures, which represent the service characteristics, form the latent construct. The findings from the comparison between the results obtained by applying the two different approaches suggest that the reflective model is surely more suitable for describing the phenomenon of passenger satisfaction with transit service quality. However, we retain that if some service aspects can be more conveniently investigated through a reflective approach, other service aspects could follow a formative approach in a better way.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Eboli & Carmen Forciniti & Gabriella Mazzulla, 2018. "Formative and reflective measurement models for analysing transit service quality," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 107-127, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:pubtra:v:10:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s12469-017-0168-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12469-017-0168-9
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    Cited by:

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    5. Bellizzi, Maria Grazia & Eboli, Laura & Mazzulla, Gabriella & Postorino, Maria Nadia, 2022. "Classification trees for analysing highly educated people satisfaction with airlines’ services," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 199-211.
    6. Sam, Enoch F. & Brijs, Kris & Daniels, Stijn & Brijs, Tom & Wets, Geert, 2020. "Testing the convergent- and predictive validity of a multi-dimensional belief-based scale for attitude towards personal safety on public bus/minibus for long-distance trips in Ghana: A SEM analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 67-79.
    7. Allen, Jaime & Bellizzi, Maria Grazia & Eboli, Laura & Forciniti, Carmen & Mazzulla, Gabriella, 2020. "Service quality in a mid-sized air terminal: A SEM-MIMIC ordinal probit accounting for travel, sociodemographic, and user-type heterogeneity," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
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