Split-Sample Tests of "No Opinion" Responses in an Attribute-Based Choice Model
通过分样本设计，研究在属性选择实验中是否包含“无意见”选项对偏好估计的影响，发现将“无意见”视为“否”会导致偏好估计显著不同，且多个“无意见”选项可区分因满意度和效用无差异而选择该选项的受访者。
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. <i></i>