LAUSR

Abstract This study explores ordering effects in close association with strategic behaviour in a discrete choice experiment surveying preference for improvements in cyclone warning services. To examine strategic behaviour, we assign respondents to assumed non-strategic and strategic groups using their answers to two questions on their beliefs about the consequentiality of the survey and the payment obligation. The data from each group are analysed non-parametrically and parametrically to investigate ordering effects in their preferences. Comparison of results between the two groups suggests that preferences of possibly strategic respondents are relatively unstable over a sequence of six choice tasks. It appears that these respondents could have behaved strategically from the fourth task onwards, diverting their responses from the choices of the non-strategic respondents. This finding may indicate that strategic behaviour is a possible cause of position-dependent ordering effects in the repeated question format.