Quantifying the preference intensities associated with physical tasks

Abstract

What can be inferred about a commuter's preferences over the physical tasks of walking, standing, and sitting using a hybrid of experimental and contingent valuation methodologies? This research addresses the question of whether there exists a valid and reliable dollar-measure of preference intensities for walking, standing, and sitting. Data was collected from over 100 participants; they participated in an experiment involving actual money tradeoffs and physical consequences (walking, standing, or sitting) for choices. The experiment is noteworthy for trying to distil a dollar-measure for preferences over tasks independent of the inherent time-costs associated with those tasks.