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A comparative analysis of cross-sectional study and natural experiment in rail transit-travel behavior research: A case study in Wuhan, China

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  • Wang, Jingjing
  • Lu, Yi
  • Diao, Mi
  • Liu, Ye

Abstract

There has been a global increase in investment in rail transit, driven by its potential to enhance transportation efficiency, reduce air pollution, and stimulate economic growth. Both cross-sectional studies and natural experiments have contributed to the growing body of evidence supporting these claims. While natural experiments are commonly preferred for evaluating the impact of rail transit, cross-sectional studies remain popular due to their ease of data collection. However, there is a scarcity of studies that compare these two approaches using the same dataset to assess the robustness of cross-sectional studies. Using a two-wave panel dataset from Wuhan, China, this study used both cross-sectional and natural experimental analyses to examine the relationship between urban rail transit and travel behavior. The study attempted to enhance the credibility of the cross-sectional analysis by controlling for confounding variables and by combining it with the propensity score matching (PSM) method, respectively. The results revealed that the cross-sectional analyses could produce similar results, when setting a more stringent significance level. The findings suggested that well-designed cross-sectional studies can be reliable and represent a cost-effective alternative to resource-intensive natural experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Jingjing & Lu, Yi & Diao, Mi & Liu, Ye, 2024. "A comparative analysis of cross-sectional study and natural experiment in rail transit-travel behavior research: A case study in Wuhan, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:121:y:2024:i:c:s0966692324002448
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2024.104035
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    References listed on IDEAS

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