Hybrid Choice Models with Logit Kernel: Applicability to Large Scale Models 1

Social Science & Medicine

2014

A growing number of studies across different fields is making use of a new class of choice models, labelled variably as hybrid model structures or integrated choice and latent variable models, in incorporating the role of attitudes in decision making. To date, this technique has not been used in health economics. The present paper looks at the formation of such attitudes and their role in patients' treatment choices in the context of low back pain. We use data stated choice data collected from a sample of just under 300 respondents referred to a regional spine centre in Denmark. We show how the hybrid model structure is able to make a link between attitudinal questions and treatment choices, and also explains the variation of these attitudes across key socio-demographic groups. However, we also show how, despite their growing popularity, the key findings of the model, net of a greater insight into the drivers of attitudes and small gains in efficiency, are no different from standard approaches which remain much easier to apply. In the present application, we also show how only a small share of the heterogeneity can be linked to the attitudinal construct.

“…For more extensive details, the reader is referred to Ben-Akiva et al (1999, 2002a; Bolduc et al (2005); Daly et al (2012).…”

Section: Modelling Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Modelling Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Understanding the formation and influence of attitudes in patients' treatment choices for lower back pain: Testing the benefits of a hybrid choice model approach

Kløjgaard

Social Science & Medicine

2014

“…This leads to the use of a hybrid model framework, an approach that is becoming increasingly popular in a number of disciplines, including transport (see e.g. Ben-Akiva et al, 1999, 2002aAshok et al, 2002;Bolduc et al, 2005). The key concept is that the variable of interest is considered as being unobserved, with only indicators thereof being captured in the data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting imputation with a latent variable approach to dealing with missing income in choice models

Sanko

Journal of Choice Modelling

Dumont

et al. 2014

Income is a key variable in many choice models. It is also one of the most salient examples of a variable affected by data problems. Issues with income arise as measurement errors in categorically captured income, correlation between stated income and unobserved variables, systematic over-or under-statement of income and missing income values for those who refuse to answer or do not know their (household) income. A common approach for dealing especially with missing income is to use imputation based on the relationship among those who report income between their stated income for reporters and their socio-demographic characteristics. A number of authors have also recently put forward a latent variable treatment of the issue, which has theoretical advantages over imputation, not least by drawing not just on data on stated income for reporters, but also choice behaviour of all respondents. We contrast this approach empirically with imputation as well as simpler approaches in two case studies, one with stated preference data and one with revealed preference data. Our findings suggest that, at least with the data at hand, the latent variable approach produces similar results to imputation, possibly an indication of non-reporters of income having similar income distributions from those who report it. But in other data sets the efficiency advantage over imputation could help in revealing issues in the complete and accurate reporting of income.

“…In common with extensive recent work in choice modelling (see e.g. Ben-Akiva et al, 2002;Bolduc et al, 2005), we recognise that attitudes themselves are not observed and hence are latent constructs, for which only part of the value can be attributed to observed respondent characteristics. We thus have that:…”

mentioning

confidence: 89%

Understanding attitudes towards congestion pricing: a latent variable investigation with data from four cities

Börjesson²

2017

Transportation Letters

Numerous cities around the world are considering the implementation of road pricing to ease urban traffic congestion, following on from the success in cities such as London and Singapore. However, policy makers are also all too aware of the generally negative public opinion towards such measures. This study makes use of data collected in four cities (two in Sweden, one in Finland and one in France) using a very consistent survey probing for citizens attitudes towards pricing We find very strong similarities across the four cities in terms of a number of underlying attitudinal constructs that help explain people s answers in a hypothetical referendum on congestion pricing The similarities across cities indicate that the increase in the opinion towards congestion pricing once they are introduced is not primarily an effect of changes in underlying attitudes, changes in how the underlying attitudes influence the support for congestion pricing, or differences in anticipated versus experienced or perceived self-interest. Instead this effect seems to be caused by a status quo acceptance, tending to increase the support for the current situation.