Experimental Measures of Preferences to Augment Survey Research

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, Blacksburg VA

Investigators

Abstract

This SGER provides funding to exploit an unprecedented opportunity to combine laboratory-experiment based measures of preferences with a large-scale longitudinal survey, the Mexico Family Live Survey (MxFLS). Incentivized, task-based measures of preferences have been shown to be superior to survey measures in laboratory tests. Field testing of these tasks has received considerable attention recently, proving that these lab-based tasks can be effectively translated into field settings. However, combining survey and experimental measures has been limited to a few studies involving only one task. This project develops and refines measures of time preferences, risk attitudes, and several aspects of pro-social preferences and field tests them with a small subsample (1000 subjects) of the next wave of the MxFLS. SGER funding is requested because of the short time-frame, and because of the exploratory nature of the research. This phase of the project will test the feasibility and refine the protocol for attaching experimental measures of preferences to a much larger subsample of the survey in subsequent waves. The broader impacts are: o The development and refining of experimental preference measures that can be used in the field to accompany a wide range of survey studies. o A better understanding of the complementarities between survey and task-based research methods. o Collection of preference data that can be used to refine models of individual and family decision making. o Testing of the external validity of experimental preference measures, to assess the power of these measures to predict future behavior of individuals and families.