Promises and problems of factorial surveys and choice experiments - Methodological challenges and substantive conclusions for survey research |
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| Coordinator 1 | Dr Hawal Shamon (Forschungszentrum Jülich) |
| Coordinator 2 | Professor Knut Petzold (Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz) |
Experimental designs in surveys, such as factorial surveys and conjoint analyses, have become increasingly established in sociological research in recent years. On the one hand, this family of methods is highly flexible and allows for a tailor-made investigation of sociological questions in different research contexts. On the other hand, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with these methods. Recently, there are still relatively few methodological studies on construction principles, analytical procedures and the resulting aspects of data quality and quality of results. The session aims to collect and discuss recent results of relevant methodological studies and methodological developments on vignette experiments.
Submissions that investigate methodological questions regarding a) theoretical and methodological foundations (e.g., models of response behaviour in vignette experiments or related procedures, advantages and disadvantages in the investigation of different sociological concepts, sources of error), b) data collection issues (e.g., strategies for recruiting the respondent sample, combination with alternative data formats, implementation in multi-methods research designs), c) design issues (e.g., aspects of the experimental design, presentation format, survey mode, response scales), d) data analysis issues, e) the examination of context effects (e.g., extreme events), f) validity issues (e.g., construct, internal and/or external validity), or any other methodologically relevant issue for factorial surveys and discrete choice experiments are particularly welcome.