Contemporary guidance for stated preference studies

Authors

Robert J. Johnston, Clark UniversityFollow
Kevin J. Boyle
Wiktor Vic Adamowicz, University of Alberta
Jeff Bennett, The Australian National University
Roy Brouwer, University of Waterloo
Trudy Ann Cameron, University of Oregon
W. Michael Hanemann, Arizona State University
Nick Hanley, University of St Andrews
Mandy Ryan, University of Aberdeen
Riccardo Scarpa, Durham University Business School
Roger Tourangeau, Westat, Inc.
Christian A. Vossler, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This article proposes contemporary best-practice recommendations for stated preference (SP) studies used to inform decision making, grounded in the accumulated body of peer-reviewed literature. These recommendations consider the use of SP methods to estimate both use and non-use (passive-use) values, and cover the broad SP domain, including contingent valuation and discrete choice experiments. We focus on applications to public goods in the context of the environment and human health but also consider ways in which the proposed recommendations might apply to other common areas of application. The recommendations recognize that SP results may be used and reused (benefit transfers) by governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations, and that all such applications must be considered. The intended result is a set of guidelines for SP studies that is more comprehensive than that of the original National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Blue Ribbon Panel on contingent valuation, is more germane to contemporary applications, and reflects the two decades of research since that time. We also distinguish between practices for which accumulated research is sufficient to support recommendations and those for which greater uncertainty remains. The goal of this article is to raise the quality of SP studies used to support decision making and promote research that will further enhance the practice of these studies worldwide.

Publication Title

Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists

Publication Date

6-2017

Volume

4

Issue

2

First Page

319

Last Page

405

ISSN

2333-5955

DOI

10.1086/691697

Keywords

choice experiment, choice modelling, contingent valuation, guidelines, nonmarket valuation, questionnaire, stated preference, survey, welfare

Repository Citation

Johnston, Robert J.; Boyle, Kevin J.; Vic Adamowicz, Wiktor; Bennett, Jeff; Brouwer, Roy; Ann Cameron, Trudy; Michael Hanemann, W.; Hanley, Nick; Ryan, Mandy; Scarpa, Riccardo; Tourangeau, Roger; and Vossler, Christian A., "Contemporary guidance for stated preference studies" (2017). Economics. 168.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_economics/168