Development of a Seating Comfort Questionnaire for Motorcycles

Objective The aim of this study is to develop a reliable and valid Motorcycle Seating Comfort Questionnaire (MSCQ). Background Motorcycle seat development is an iterative process based on subjective evaluations; however, there are no established subjective tools for evaluation of seating comfort. Research also suggests that seating comfort in motorcycles is poor and needs improvement. The development of a MSCQ therefore is an important step that can enable further research and aid in improving the design of motorcycle seats. Method The MSCQ is developed following guidelines available in literature and referring to established questionnaires for seating comfort in passenger cars. The MSCQ is further refined based on pilot studies and interviews with experts. The final version of the MSCQ is then statistically evaluated for reliability and validity. The reliability is evaluated using a test-retest protocol with 31 volunteers. The validity is evaluated by comparing the ratings of the MSCQ with that of the Category Partitioning Scale (CP50 scale). The validity test is carried out with 15 volunteers evaluating five motorcycles using both scales. Results The results show that the MSCQ is reliable with a significant test-retest reliability coefficient ( r = 0.72, p < .01, n = 31) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.81, n = 31). The results also show that ratings of the MSCQ have a significant correlation ( r = -0.765, p < .05, n = 15) with that of CP50, establishing its validity. Conclusions A Motorcycle Seating Comfort Questionnaire is developed in this study with statistically established reliability and validity. Applications The MSCQ can be used as a tool for evaluation of seating comfort in motorcycles. The MSCQ can also form a basis for further research on motorcycle seating to develop prediction models and guidelines for the design of motorcycle seats.