Concomitant research

The CARLOS pilot programme was evaluated by „Sozialforschungsstelle der Universität Zürich (SFS)“ in close collaboration with „Interfakultäre Koordinationsstelle der Universität Bern (IKAÖ)“ and Dr. ing. lic. oec. Beat Greuter (Zürich). The general aim of the evaluation was to define both quality and quantity of the results generated by the pilot program CARLOS and the different factors responsible for these results. The evaluation was financed by the commission for technology and innovation which is part of the Federal Office for Professional
Education and Technology OPET.

Aims of the evaluation were to define:

• success and consequences of CARLOS (IKAÖ/SFS)
• psychological, social and situational motivations and barriers for the use of CARLOS (SFS)
• economical consequences of CARLOS (Greuter)
• ecological consequences of CARLOS (IKAÖ)
• potential of CARLOS (SFS/IKAÖ/Greuter)

Synthesis-report of the evaluation in German by the University of Zurich

Short version: Synthesis-report of the scientific evaluation (pdf, in German, 12 pages, 750kb)

Integral version: Synthesis-report of the scientific evaluation (pdf, in German, 27 pages, 880kb)

Design and basis for the analyses
The core of the evaluation is an extended “before / after – design”:

 

The research team examined the status before the CARLOS system was implemented and the status two years after the implementation. Through comparing the results it is possible to analyse:

• the changes CARLOS caused
• the factors influencing the use of CARLOS
• the potential CARLOS could have in other regions

The different analyses were based on different data-sources:

• 2 representative inquiries in the involved municipalities (2002 and 2004)
• 2 inquiries in 3 focus groups (2002 and 2004)
• statistics on the utilisation of the public transport-systems
• statistics on individual motor car traffic
• data generated by the use of CARLOS

The “before / after – design” is enhanced by:

• continuous measuring of the user frequency of CARLOS
• the possibility to ask the users individual questions through the automat
• periodical group discussions