The increasing use of internet surveys for stated preference studies raises questions about the effect of the survey mode on welfare estimates. A number of studies have conducted convergent validity investigations that compare the use of the internet with other survey implementation modes such as mail, telephone and in-person. All, but one, of these comparison studies is confounded different sample frames for the different modes of survey implementation. In this study we investigate differences in internet and mail survey modes holding the sample frame constant. This is done in the context of a choice-modelling study of improvements in the RiverMurray inAustralia.We also investigate sample frame holding the survey mode (mail) constant.We find that survey mode (internet vs. mail) influences welfare estimates, and the internet welfare estimates are about 78% of the mail welfare estimates on average. There is not a significant effect of sample frame (internet panel vs. postal addresses) on welfare estimates for implementation of a mail survey.
History
Publication title
Environmental and Resource Economics
Volume
64
Pagination
401-419
ISSN
0924-6460
Department/School
College Office - College of Business and Economics
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Place of publication
Netherlands
Rights statement
Copyright 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht