FACTORS AFFECTING RESIDENTIAL LOCATION CHOICE

The demand for residential space is influenced by numerous attributes many of which come under the influence of transport planners. Until recently, models of the relationships between this demand and the relevant attributes have relied on empirical comparisons, few have contained a solid behavioural base. The elimination by aspects model has its origin in the behavioural sciences. Its basic assumption is that an individual searches through the attributes influencing the choice, in order of decreasing importance, and eliminates a location as soon as one of the attributes present in the location is found to be unacceptable. The theory underlying the model is briefly outlined and its mathematical expression presented. The procedure for estimating both the importance ratings and the level of acceptance of attribute satisfaction levels is also outlined. The model is then applied to the choice of residence of a group of people in Melbourne. The sensitivity of these people's choices to variations in the attributes influencing residential location choice is investigated. (Author/TRRL)