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Preference Stability in Discrete Choice Experiments. Some Evidence Using Eye-tracking

Fraser, Iain M., Balcombe, Kelvin, McSorely, Eugene, Williams, Loius (2021) Preference Stability in Discrete Choice Experiments. Some Evidence Using Eye-tracking. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 94 . Article Number 101753. ISSN 2214-8043. (doi:10.1016/j.socec.2021.101753) (KAR id:89528)

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between the extent of visual attention and preference stability in a discrete choice experiment using eye-tracking to investigate country of origin information for meat in the UK. By preference stability, we mean the extent to which choice task responses differ for an identical set of tasks for an individual. Our results reveal that the degree of visual attention, counter to our initial expectations, is positively related to the degree of preference instability. This means that preference instability does not necessarily indicate low levels of respondent engagement. We also find that those respondents' exhibiting preference instability do not substantively differ from the rest of the sample in terms of their underlying preferences. Rather, these respondents spend longer looking at tasks that are similar in terms of utility, suggesting these respondents find these choices more difficult.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.socec.2021.101753
Uncontrolled keywords: Discrete Choice Experiment, Eye-Tracking, Preference Stability, Complexity
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Economics
Depositing User: Iain Fraser
Date Deposited: 30 Jul 2021 11:44 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Aug 2023 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/89528 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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