RESEARCH
of smelly people in train 
to make our source reliable and support our arguments

Frame research problem about smelly people in train

• WHAT cause the unpleasant body door?
• is it a serious problem
• to what extent a smell is considered as unbearable?
• to what extent people solve the problem of how small the air circulation in trains?

Research able problem

• Bad breath coming within the mouth. the bad smell is thought to come from bacteria 

1. Medicine
2. Food and drinks
3. Dry mouth

• Bad smell is that often the only person not to noticed it is the person affected (you get used to your own smell and don't tend to notice your own bad smell)
• Sweating and body odor are facts of life for most people : can happen when you exercise 

1. too warm 
2. nervous
3. anxious
4. under stress

PRIMARY RESEARCH 

In order to collect further data to understand the problem deeper, my group conducted a survey online to collect primary data.

Our sample target was students, who take bus and train daily, and are around 18- 24 years old. Thus, we prepared an online survey with 10 multiple-choice questions. Our group decided to send out the survey online to our lists of contacts, friends on facebook, and classmates. As a result, we received 70 responses in total.  Thus, these responses make up our finding and understanding the problem.

    Question form

    Age: Occupation: Race:

1.           Have you encountered smelly people on train / bus?

2.  Are you aware of your body smell?

3.  Do you often encounter smell people on train/bus?

4.  Do you feel uncomfortable with the smell?

5.  Do you think there are a lot of smelly people on train/ bus ?

6.  Do you often encounter smelly people during peak hours?

7.  How did you avoid, or solve this problem?

a.  Hold breath   b. Use tissue paper, handkerchief, … to cover nose         c. mask    d. changing seat

8.    What might be the causes of the smell in your opinion ?

a.    Personal hygiene   b. Disease   c. Cultural differences   d. others (food,…) 

9.    Is this a serious problem?

10.         Should there be a solution to it?  

Q1. Have you ever encountered smelly people on train/bus?

• Answered: 69 
• Skipped: 1

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	95.65% 66
No	4.35% 3
Total Respondents: 69

Q2. Are you aware of your you body smell?

• Answered: 69 
• Skipped: 1

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	88.41% 61
No	11.59% 8
Total Respondents: 69

Q3. Do you often encounter smelly people on train/bus?

• Answered: 70 
• Skipped: 0

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	60% 42
No	40% 28
Total Respondents: 70

Q4. Do you feel uncomfortable with the smell?

• Answered: 70 
• Skipped: 0

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	91.43% 64
No	8.57% 6
Total Respondents: 70

Q5. Do you think there are a lot of smelly people on train/ bus?

• Answered: 70 
• Skipped: 0

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	61.43% 43
No	40% 28
Total Respondents: 70

Q6. Do you often encounter smelly people during peak hours?

• Answered: 69 
• Skipped: 1

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	79.71% 55
No	20.29% 14
Total Respondents: 69

Q7. How did you avoid / solve this problem?

• Answered: 64 
• Skipped: 6

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Hold breath	46.88% 30
Use tissue paper, or cloth to cover nose	34.38% 22
Mask	9.38% 6
Changing seat	34.38% 22
Turn the other side	43.75% 28
Total Respondents: 64

Q8. What might be the causes of the smell in your opinion?

• Answered: 70 
• Skipped: 0

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Personal hygiene	65.71% 46
Disease	7.14% 5
Cultural differences	32.86% 23
Food	21.43% 15
Sweat	70% 49
Total Respondents: 70

Q9. Is this a problem?

• Answered: 70 
• Skipped: 0

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	82.86% 58
No	18.57% 13
Total Respondents: 70

Q10. Should there be a solution to it?

• Answered: 70 
• Skipped: 0

Answer Choices–	Responses–
Yes	88.57% 62
No	11.43% 8
Total Respondents: 70

Survey analysis

In the first question, our finding shows that 66 people (95.65%) have encountered smelly people on train and bus, while 3 people (4.35%) have not. This shows the majority of people encountered this problem. Next, with the second question, it helps to understand that the majority of people (61 people) are aware of their body smell, and 9 people are not. This reviews the awareness of one’s personal hygiene too keep clean. The result of the third question confirms that people often meet smelly people in train/ bus with 42 people said yes and 22 said no to the question.  The fourth question reveals that these smelly people cause discomfort to other passengers with the positive responses of 64 people agreed, and 6 people disagreed. The majority of people, 43 people specifically, think that there are a lot of smelly people in train/ bus, and 27 people do not, in the fifth question. This shows the public opinion, and generalizes our understanding that there are a lot of smelly people in train/ bus. Next question informs that 55 passengers often meet smelly people on train/ bus during peak hours, while the remaining 14 people do not. Our next question suggests temporary solutions to solve the problem: holding breath (30 people); using tissue paper or cloth to cover nose (22 people); mask (6 people); changing seat (22 people); turning the other side (28 people). These are the common methods that people usually use to solve the problem. This reveals that the most common methods are holding breath, and turning the other side. However, these solutions can be understood when people have no choices, and are trapped in one place during peak hours.  Other solutions such as using tissue paper and changing seat also proved to be effective as the responses are relatively high. Next, we find that the causes of the smell are mostly because of sweat (49 people), and personal hygiene (46 people), followed by cultural differences (23 people), food (15 people), and disease (5 people). The last two questions make up a sentence that this is a problem, and there should be a solution to it. Our finding shows that 58 people said this is a problem, and 62 people demanded for solution to this problem.

In conclusion to this survey, we have received responses that smelly people in train/ bus is a problem. This causes discomfort to other passengers. Furthermore, people often encounter them during peak hours. The temporary solutions are not satisfactory, thus people demand a better solution to this problem. Holding breath and turning the other side represent the majority of people who do not have choices such as using tissue, and changing seat. The survey has provided us more information, and better understanding with facts. This is a valuable data of information in tackling the problem of smelly people in train. By allocating the causes of smelly people in train, It is easier for us to understand, and we hope to design a solution to this problem.

SECONDARY RESEARCH

Book Sources:

Wes, Jones. ‘Cure Constipation Now’. New York: Berkley Books, 2009.

Wolf, Jacqueline L. ‘A Woman’s Guide To A Healthy Stomach’. Canada: Harlequin, 2011.  

Magazine Sources:

Leong, Daylene. ‘Beat Bad Breath’. Ezyhealth. Poso, Maripet, ed. Ezyhealth. Singapore: Janice Yeo, 2014. Accessed 8 Feb.2014.  50 <http://www.ezyhealth.com/emag/012014/regform.php>.    

Ivey, Susan, and Price, Richard. ‘Embarrassing Health Conditions no one talks about’. Shape. Vol. 33, No. 5. 2014. 15.

Electronic Sources

Nordqvist, Christian. ‘What is Body Odor (B.O.)? What Causes Body Odor?’. MNT, Medical News Today. 9 Dec. 2009.   Accessed 6 Feb. 2014 <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173478.php>.

Pillinger, John. ‘Body Odor’. Netdoctor. 12 Dec. 2013. Accessed 6 Feb. 2014 
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/hilaryjones/embarrassingprobs/bodyodour.html>.

Montoya, Ray ray. ‘Personal hygiene &Culture differences’. Weblog.  eHow. 17 Jun. 2013. Accessed 6 Feb. 2013 <http://www.ehow.com/info_8177345_personal-hygiene-cultural-differences.html>. 

Jacobi, Tillman. ‘A business man with bad breath’. GP.  14 May. 2010. Accessed 10 Feb. 2014 <http://www.gponline.com/Clinical/article/1001870/Case-study---businessman-bad-breath/>.

‘Halitosis’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.  Last revised 30 January. 2014. Accessed 6 February. 2014.<http://en/wikipedia.org/wiki/helitosis>.

Lim, Jeremy. ‘Breathing life into MediShield Life’. The Big Story. 23 September. 2013. Accessed 6 February. 2014. <http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/case-you-missed-it/story/breathing-life-medishield-life-20130930>.