Research Design: Case Study of E-Z Pass

Abstract

Problem identification process includes different steps which are interrelated with each other. Going through the steps one at a time, leads to identification of a problem. Research design is setting an objective and setting up a guideline to what should be done to get to the objectives. In the case of E-Z Pass, it is recommended for the task force to perform an exploratory research design. Researchers are able to complete an entire research without a hitch when research questions are properly defined. Dummy table refers to the research tool which showcases the result that is expected by the end of a research.

Keywords: Research, Problem Identification, Research Design, E-Z Pass, Electronic Toll Collection.

Introduction to Case Study

E-Z Pass is a case, where the main objective of the study is to understand the feasibility and desirability of bringing in Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) for inter-regional roadways. The main purpose of it was to reduce the traffic at toll plazas. For the study, task force of executives of seven regional transportation agencies in the New York- New Jersey are was formed. Electronic Toll Collection was already popular around Texas and Louisiana. Moreover, the task force top focus became investigating on commuters’ preference for how the service should be configured ideally. With this the research question to be tested were prepared. According to researcher, they thought it to be necessary to identify commuter’s demand for the service. However, the task force deemed it unimportant as they were committed to implement the Electronic Toll Collection.

Electronic Toll Collection is accomplished by providing the commuters tags which emits radio signal. These radio signals can read from a car which is in motion and ETC can reduce traffic jams at toll plazas by allowing tag holders to pass through at moderate speeds (Babin & Grifin, 2009). According to (Chen, Fan, & Farn, 2007), ETC is a part of an intelligent transport system which allows for the electronic payment of highway tolls by using the vehicle to roadside communication resulting in a decrease in the road traffic in tollbooths.

Research Process

Research refers to the scientific and systematic process that includes collection of data and information, documentation of such information and analyzing and making a critical assessment of the information. When a gap is identified in a market, then researchers thrive to receive an answer. As research is a process, this process entails identification of a problem, selection of a research question to be tested, selection of research design, collection of data- Primary Data and Secondary Data, documentation of data, interpreting and analyzing the data to reach to certain conclusion. There is different type of research that is Basic Research and Applied Research. These research types are further divided into three other research types which is Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research and Mixed Research.

Problem definition is an initial step to research process. Identifying the problem in a research is necessary as it becomes the base to another step of the process. Problem definition process is backed by review of literature. Problem definition does not necessarily lead to its literal meaning. The term could mean identification of a gap in the market or identifying an opportunity. For defining the research problems, different research instrument must be used. Once the problem of a research is defined, drawing out the structure of entire research process will be easier. Problem identification process includes different steps which are interrelated with each other. Going through the steps one at a time helps in understanding the core of a problem.

Next step is selection of research question. Research question are integral part of research process. These question makes the overall research understandable. Researchers are able to complete an entire research without a hitch when research questions are properly defined. Research question is the base of where one can take the study. According to (Nassaji, 2019), research questions is clear, specific, and goal-oriented query related to a problem that needs to be addressed. One of the most commonly suggested ways of generating ideas for research question is by identifying the gap in existing literature (White, 2017).

Following the selection of research question comes identification of research design. Research design is setting an objective and setting up a guideline to what should be done to get to the objectives. Selecting an appropriate research design from among the available research design methodologies is one the most difficult task, which is why it is important to know about different research design methodologies (Groenewald, 2004). Research design are divided into two parts:

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Exploratory Research Design

This research design refers to the research design which is followed to discover ideas, problems, gaps. They are informative but cannot be applied. Research following this design are better suited for the startups. This research is a part of qualitative research. This research research has been criticized for lacking participants’ voice and a meaningful interpretation (McKim, 2017).

According to (Reiter, 2017), the design seeks to provide new explanations that were previously overlooked and it can do so through the active involvement of the researcher in the process of amplifying his or her conceptual tools to allow him or her to raised new questions and provide new explanations of a given reality, from a new angle.

Conclusive Research Design.

This research design is followed to reach towards certain conclusion. It is further subdivided into descriptive research design and casual research design. These research designs are costly for the startup. Established companies follow this research design for further development.

Other steps include collection of data and information and its documentation. After the research design is selected, it is an easy task to choose what type of data are needed to be collection. There are two types of data that is firstly, primary data and secondly, secondary data. Various instruments are used to collect these data. The information collected during the process are documented and then they are analyzed and interpreted.

Research Process in Relation to the Case Study

Problem Definition Process

In the case of E-Z Pass, the broader problem that was to be investigated was about the feasibility and desirability of the commuters to the service of Electronic Toll Collection. Along with toll payment, ETC helps authorities to keep track of the vehicle for security reasons passing the tollbooths. As a problem definition process, the task force that were assigned the investigation, prepared set of research questions which were mostly focused on the features of Electronic Toll Collection and how it works. In this case, the questions identified do not assist in problem identification. Moreover, the research question drifts from the objective of the investigation.

Research Design to be Recommended

In the case of E-Z Pass, it is recommended for the task force to perform an exploratory research design. Defining an objective of the investigation is necessary. Exploratory research design will be able to provide in depth knowledge about Electrical Toll Collection, their feasibility and demand in the market. Furthermore, using different research design instruments such as survey, interview, secondary data, the task force will be able to understand the commuter’s behavior and their perception regarding the ETC. Exploratory research design is recommended here because the task force has already committed to implement the ETC.

Research Questions to be Tested

From the above case study, the research questions that can be tested are listed below:

1. How bad is traffic in New York–New Jersey area?
2. Are the commuters familiar with ETC?
3. What is their view regarding the service?
4. How and from where can the commuters get E-Z Pass?
5. Is it secure?
6. For how long should the commuters wait in a queue in tollbooth?

Dummy Table

Dummy table refers to the research tool which showcases the result that is expected by the end of a research. It is to be noted that the results presented in the table are hypothetical. In the case of E-Z Pass, dummy table might include the research question set by the task force, feedbacks of the commuters, insights gathered from the interview and secondary sources and conclusion that the task force want to come at.

Conclusion

Research is an important part of decision making. E-Z Pass, is the service which adopts Electronic Toll Collection. This system can be used in highway, bridge & tunnel. The major area of implementation of our project is related with traffic management system (Wani, 2018). The research design beneficial for the task force would be exploratory research design. This research design is not appropriate for decision making but these are informative research modules. The research question sorted, provides base for how to conduct research.

References

1. Babin, Z., & Grifin, C. (2009). Business Research Method. South Western College Pub.
2. Chen, C., Fan, Y., & Farn, C. (2007). Predicting Electronic Toll Collection Service Adoption:
3. An Integration of the Technology Acceptance Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 15(5), 300-311.
4. Wani, M. (2018). An Electronic Toll Collection System. Asian Journal of Convergence and Technology, 4(1).
5. Reiter, B. (2017). Theory and Methodology of Exploratory Social Science Research. Ijsrm Human Journals, 5(4), 129-150.
6. Nassaji, H. (2019). Good research questions. Language Teaching Research, 23(3), 283-286.
7. White, P. (2017). Developing Research Questions. London: MacMillan Education; Palgrave.
8. McKim, C. A. (2017). The Value of Mixed Methods Research: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 11(2), 202-222.
9. Groenewald, T. (2004). A Phenomenological Research Design Illustrated. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(1), 42-55.