Why Are You Asking All These Questions?
Have you ever filled out a survey and wondered, “Why do they need to know all this?”
Whether it’s a customer feedback form, a questionnaire about your shopping habits, or a political opinion poll, surveys seem to be everywhere today. But why are they so important, and what do they tell us about human behavior?
Surveys: More Than Just a Bunch of Questions
Every day, we make countless choices. What to eat, how to travel, which products to buy.
Do I order steak or salad? Do I take the car or the bus?
Some decisions are influenced by external factors – weather, availability, cost – while others are determined only by personal preferences. But what causes these preferences?
Since we (luckily) can’t read humans’ minds, surveys are a key tool to understand the thoughts and feelings that drive these choices.
Surveys help businesses improve their products, governments shape better policies, and scientists understand trends in society. When you answer a survey, you’re not just checking boring boxes, you can be contributing with valuable information that can lead to meaningful change.
The Science Behind Your Choices
One of the key theories that explains decision-making is the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991).
Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
According to this theory, before we act, we form an intention to do so. If nothing prevents us (actual behavioural control), we will carry on with the action.
Three key factors shape our intention:
• Your attitude: Do you believe the behavior is beneficial?
To enquire about your attitude researcher will ask you to score sentences like this: “Automated systems (such as CCAM vehicles) generally work well.”
If you respond that you “absolutely disagree” you probably will not form an intention to use CCAM in the near future.
- Social influence: Do the people around you support the behavior?
Researcher could measure this with inquiries like “most people that are close to me and whose opinions matter to me would approve the use of CCAM vehicles” or “most people that are close to me would also use CCAM vehicles”.
- Your sense of control: Do you feel capable of performing the behavior?
Example: “I am confident I could use a CCAM vehicle in public transport if I wanted to.”
As a general rule, the more positive your attitude, the stronger the social approval, and the greater your confidence, the more likely you are to create an intention to act. If you also have the opportunity, you’ll follow through.
This is why understanding people’s perceptions through surveys is so valuable—it helps predict and influence real-world behavior.
Why Your Answers are important
Many people skip surveys, thinking their opinion doesn’t make a difference. But every answer counts! Whether it’s a transport authority planning the next CCAM project or a company improving its autonomous vehicle services, decision-makers rely on honest feedback to make informed choices.
In SINFONICA, we are studying user’s needs for future CCAM mobility options, to ensure everyone will be included. One of the tools we have been using are surveys.
So, next time you’re asked to take a survey from a public project, think of it as a chance to shape the future of society. Your answers could lead to smarter transportation networks, safer roads, and a more efficient, sustainable way to get around. After all, understanding human behavior starts with a simple question: Why?
Author: Francesca Merlo (PoliTO)
