Experimental approaches in questionnaires: an application to innovation studies

Frank J. van Rijnsoever
Utrecht University
Monday, 26 October 2015 - 12:00

Questionnaire data is often used in the field of innovation studies to measure respondent preferences and even forecast behavior. Common approaches are using rating (e.g. Likert) or ranking scales. However, these types of measurement have their own specific drawbacks that inhibit them from accurately measuring preferences or forecasting behavior. Moreover, this type of data generally suffers from a low internal validity, and is often unable to adequately capture heterogeneity among respondents based on their preferences. In this seminar I will introduce the idea of discrete choice experiments in questionnaires to alleviate most of these problems. In a discrete choice experiment, respondent receive a series of systematically varying choices tasks. Each task has multiple alternatives from which respondents can choose their preferred option. I will discuss how the method works, it’s advantages, drawbacks and give examples of their use in innovation studies.

Place: 

Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación
Edificio 8E, Acceso J, Planta 4ª (Sala Aprende. Cubo Rojo)
Universidad Politécnica de Valencia | Camino de Vera s/n

Short CV: 

Dr. Frank J. van Rijnsoever | Assistant Professor | Innovation Studies, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development | Faculty of Geosciences | Utrecht University | Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht | Room 10.04b | + 31 30 253 7484 | f.j.vanrijnsoever@uu.nl | www.uu.nl/staff/fjvanrijnsoever

More info about start-ups and incubation can be found at: www.startupinsights.org

My online course about writing a research proposal can be found here

My working paper on required sample size for reaching theoretical saturation in qualitative research can be found here