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Preference Stability and Choice Consistency in Discrete Choice Experiments

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  • Dan Rigby

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Michael Burton

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Jo Pluske

    (The University of Western Australia)

Abstract

We investigate preference stability and respondents’ levels of choice consistency within discrete choice experiments. These are investigated via a discrete choice experiment featuring four information treatments and a retest survey completed 6 months after the first. Three information treatments concern a novel, stem cell, food technology with the fourth information treatment featuring a non-novel technology. We find stable welfare estimates over the three information treatments; the use of emotive keywords does not systematically change WTP to avoid the stem cell food technology. We find a significant WTP to avoid the non-novel technology. We find high levels of intertemporal preference stability and choice consistency. The determinants of choice consistency are examined. Two factors are significant: a measure of the choice task’s complexity (entropy) and a novel measure of respondents’ cognitive capability, derived within the survey. We find a significant selection issue, not previously identified in discrete choice experiment test–retest studies, with those opting to take the retest exhibiting greater choice consistency in the initial survey. This suggests that studies which report high levels of test–retest choice consistency, without accounting for the selection issue, are overstating population choice consistency.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Rigby & Michael Burton & Jo Pluske, 2016. "Preference Stability and Choice Consistency in Discrete Choice Experiments," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 65(2), pages 441-461, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:65:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s10640-015-9913-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-015-9913-1
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    5. Haghani, Milad & Bliemer, Michiel C.J. & Rose, John M. & Oppewal, Harmen & Lancsar, Emily, 2021. "Hypothetical bias in stated choice experiments: Part I. Macro-scale analysis of literature and integrative synthesis of empirical evidence from applied economics, experimental psychology and neuroimag," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    6. David Throsby & Anita Zednik & Jorge E. Araña, 2021. "Public preferences for heritage conservation strategies: a choice modelling approach," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 45(3), pages 333-358, September.
    7. Fraser, Iain & Balcombe, Kelvin & Williams, Louis & McSorley, Eugene, 2021. "Preference stability in discrete choice experiments. Some evidence using eye-tracking," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
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