A systematic review of the reliability and validity of discrete choice experiments in valuing non-market environmental goods

Abstract

While discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are increasingly used in the field of environmental valuation, they remain controversial because of their hypothetical nature and the contested reliability and validity of their results. We systematically reviewed evidence on the validity and reliability of environmental DCEs from the past 13 years (Jan 2003 to February 2016). 107 articles met our inclusion criteria. These studies provide limited and mixed evidence of the reliability and validity of DCE. This research was supported by the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme