Qualitative research in transportation

Transportation researchers rarely publish findings based on qualitative methods in peer-reviewed transportation journals; quantitative methods dominate research in the field. In this research, we document and examine the effects of this quantitative orientation in transportation research. We relied on in-depth interviews with 46 researchers and editors and systematic reviewed the methods used in published top transportation journals. Qualitative research accounts for a very small but growing share of peer-reviewed publications in transportation journals. Interviewees reported widespread misunderstandings of qualitative research methods and a lack of expertise from reviewers and editors in evaluating this type of work. The barriers that qualitative researchers face in peer review have implications for individual careers and the field of transportation more broadly. Gatekeeping around research methods limits how our field understands critical transportation issues with potential implications for practice and policy.