Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A critical test of the choice questionnaire for collecting informed public opinions

  • Published:
Quality and Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the Choice Questionnaire (Neijens et al. 1992) respondents have to choose between several policy options. Within this questionnaire they are provided with information about the consequences of each option. Until now, only indirect evidence as to whether or not respondents base their preferences on the information provided was available and plausible alternative explanations for the Choice Questionnaire's effect could not be ruled out. In the present study, we demonstrate that Choice Questionnaire respondents do base their preferences on the information provided: different information resulted in significantly different choices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Cook, T.D. & Campbell, D.T. (1979). Quasi Experimentation. Design & Analysis Issues for Field Settings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fienberg, S.E. (1977). The Analysis of Cross-classified Categorical Data. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGregor, D. (1960). The Human Side of Enterprise. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neale, J.M. & Liebert, R.M. (1986). Science and Behavior: An Introduction to Methods of Research. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. (1987). The Choice Questionnaire. Design and Evaluation of an Instrument for Collecting Informed Opinions of a Population. Amsterdam: Free University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. & De Ridder, J.A. (1992). ‘De keuze-enquête over de auto in de binnenstad’, pp. 77–88, in W.E. Saris, P. Neijens & J.J.M. Slot (eds), Het Eerste Amsterdamse Referendum in Perspectief. Amsterdam: Cramwinckel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P., De Ridder, J.A. & Saris, W.F. (1992). ‘An instrument for collecting informed opinions’, Quality & Quantity 26: 245–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saris, W.E., Neijens, P.C. & De Ridder, J.A. (1983). Keuze-enquëte. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A. (1978). ‘Self-generated attitude change’, pp. 289–338, in L. Berkowitz (ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, vol. 11. San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Knippenberg, D. & Daamen, D.D.L. (1996). ‘Providing Information in Public Opinion Surveys: Motivation and Ability Effects in the Information-and-Choice Questionnaire’, International Journal of Public Opinion Research 8: 70–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Knippenberg, D. & Daamen, D.D.L. (1994). De Energie-Keuze-Enquête. De invloed van informatie van deskundigen op voorkeuren van het publiek met betrekking tot de toekomstige elektriciteitsvoorziening. Rijksuniversiteit Leiden: Werkgroep Energic-en Milicuonderzock. E&M/R-94/318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlek, C.A.J. (1987). ‘Peiling van publieksvoorkeuren over energiebeleid. Een keuze-enquête met voorafgaande informatiebeoordeling’, Mens en Maatschappij 62: 401–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlek, C.A.J. (1988). ‘Keuze-enquëte met informatiebeoordeling. Een weerwoord aan Neijens, De Ridder en Saris’, Mens en Maatschappij 63: 199–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagenaar, W.A. (1984). ‘Opinie-onderzoek is moeilijker dan een kerncentrale bouwen’, De Volkskrant april 14: 25.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Centre for Energy and Environmental Research, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Corinne A. Van der Salm, Daan van Knippenberg & Dancker D.L. Daamen

Authors
  1. Corinne A. Van der Salm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daan van Knippenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dancker D.L. Daamen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dancker D.L. Daamen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van der Salm, C.A., van Knippenberg, D. & Daamen, D.D. A critical test of the choice questionnaire for collecting informed public opinions. Quality & Quantity 31, 193–197 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004214500745

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004214500745

Keywords

Search

Navigation