title: Discrete-choice experiments versus rating scale exercises to evaluate the importance of attributes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the difference between discrete-choice experiments (DCE) and rating scale exercises (RSE) in determining the most important attributes using a case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undergraduate health sciences students were asked to complete a DCE and a RSE. Six potentially important attributes were identified in focus groups. Fourteen unlabelled choice tasks were constructed using a statistically efficient design. Mixed multinomial logistic regression analysis was used for DCE data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 254 undergraduate students filled out the questionnaire. In the DCE, only four attributes were statistically significant, whereas in the RSE, all attributes except one were rated four or higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attribute importance differs between DCE and RSE. The DCE had a differentiating effect on the relative importance of the attributes; however, determining relative importance using DCE should be done with caution as a lack of statistically significant difference between levels does not necessarily imply that the attribute is not important.
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI, Research School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ben Fm
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Wijnen
authors.forename: Inge M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: van der Putten
authors.forename: Siebren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Groothuis
authors.forename: Reina Ja
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Kinderen
authors.forename: Cindy Yg
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Noben
authors.forename: Aggie Tg
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Paulus
authors.forename: Bram Lt
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Ramaekers
authors.forename: Gaston Cwm
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Mickael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiligsmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Likert scale; discrete choice experiment; preferences; rating scale; relative importance of attributes