RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Split-Sample Tests of “No Opinion” Responses in an Attribute-Based Choice Model
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 348
OP 362
DO 10.3368/le.85.2.348
VO 85
IS 2
A1 Fenichel, Eli P.
A1 Lupi, Frank
A1 Hoehn, John P.
A1 Kaplowitz, Michael D.
YR 2009
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/85/2/348.abstract
AB Researchers using questionnaires to elicit preferences must decide whether to include response options that allow respondents to express “no opinion.” Using a split-sample design, we explore the implications of alternative answer formats including and not including no-opinion responses in an attribute-based choice experiment. The results indicate that using multiple no-opinion responses may enable researchers to differentiate between respondents who choose no-opinion options due to satisficing and those expressing utility indifference. Existing literature suggests no-opinion responses may be treated as “no,” but our results show treating no-opinion responses as “no” can yield substantially disparate preference estimates. (JEL C25, Q24, Q25, Q51)