Hi all, 

Our next meeting will be Wednesday February 19, where Asya Magazinnik will present research “What Do we Learn About Voter Preferences From Conjoint Experiments?”

Abstract: Political scientists frequently interpret the results of conjoint experiments as reflective of voter preferences. In this paper we show that the target esti- mand of conjoint experiments, the AMCE, is not well-defined in these terms. Even with individually rational experimental subjects, unbiased estimates of the AMCE can indicate the opposite of the true preference of the majority. To show this, we characterize the preference aggregation rule implied by AMCE and demonstrate its several undesirable properties. With this result we provide a method for placing sharp bounds on the proportion of experimental subjects with a strict preference for a given candidate-feature. We provide a testable assumption to show when the AMCE corresponds in sign with the majority preference. Finally, we offer a structural interpretation of the AMCE and highlight that the problem we describe persists even when a model of voting is imposed.

The paper can be found here. 

Where: CGIS Knafel Building, Room K354 (see this link for directions). 

When: Wednesday, February 17 at 12noon - 1:30pm. 

All are welcome and lunch will be provided. 

Best, 

Georgie