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Efficient and Accessible Discrete Choice Experiments: The DCEtool Package for R

Daniel Pérez-Troncoso

arXiv 18 Sep 2025 · Econometrics

arXiv:2509.15326 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are widely used to elicit preferences for products or services by analyzing choices among alternatives described by their attributes. The quality of the insights obtained from a DCE heavily depends on the properties of its experimental design. While early DCEs often relied on linear criteria such as orthogonality, these approaches were later found to be inappropriate for discrete choice models, which are inherently non-linear. As a result, statistically efficient design methods, based on minimizing the D-error to reduce parameter variance, have become the standard. Although such methods are implemented in several commercial tools, researchers seeking free and accessible solutions often face limitations. This paper presents DCEtool, an R package with a Shiny-based graphical interface designed to support both novice and experienced users in constructing, decoding, and analyzing statistically efficient DCE designs. DCEtool facilitates the implementation of serial DCEs, offers flexible design settings, and enables rapid estimation of discrete choice models. By making advanced design techniques more accessible, DCEtool contributes to the broader adoption of rigorous experimental practices in choice modelling.

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Most heavily cited references

The works this paper leans on most, across its whole bibliography — not restricted to papers in our corpus. Ranked by composite intensity, which combines how often a work is mentioned, how many sections mention it, and how much of that falls in the main text rather than the appendix.

ReferenceIntensityMentionsSectionsMain text
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2Pérez-Troncoso D (2022) Optimal sequential strategy to improve the precision of the estimators in a discrete choice experiment: A simulation study0.64422100%
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6Kessels R, Jones B, Goos P, Vandebroek M (2011) The usefulness of Bayesian optimal designs for discrete choice experiments0.40511100%
7ChoiceMetrics (2018) Ngene 1.2 User Manual & Reference Guide0.40511100%
8Posit Team (2025) RStudio: Integrated Development Environment for R0.40511100%
9R Core Team (2025) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing0.40511100%
10Rose JM, Bliemer MC (2014) Stated choice experimental design theory: the who, the what and the why0.40511100%

Showing the top 10 of 12 scored citations.