CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY OF DICHOTOMOUS AND POLYCHOTOMOUS CHOICE CONTINGENTVALUATION QUESTIONS

In this note we conduct construct validity tests for dichotomous choic e (DC) and polychotomous choice (PC) contingent valuation questions. C ontrary to previous results, we find that DC and PC estimates of willi ngness to pay are theoretically valid, convergent valid, and similar i n terms of statistical precision. Similar to previous results, PC resp ondents are less sensitive to information than DC respondents. We conc lude that DC and PC valuation questions are construct valid for this s tudy. Sequential PC valuation questions could be used in studies where obtaining information about the certainty or intensity of respondent preferences would be useful.