Using derived values in choice experiments
Using respondent reference data as derived values within choice experiment attribute levels.
A step-by-step interactive tutorial on using derived values in choice experiments in SurveyEngine. Preview the live tutorial, then download and upload it to your account to examine the construction.
Ben White, 08.07.2026
What this tutorial covers
Using respondent reference data as derived values within choice experiment attribute levels.
Each page of the tutorial demonstrates a specific technique. Work through it as a respondent first, then open the editor to see how it was built.
What you will learn
After completing this tutorial you will be able to implement using derived values in choice experiments in your own SurveyEngine surveys.
Download the tutorial ZIP and upload it to your account to use it as a starting point or template for your own work.
TLDR Quick links
Step-by-step walkthrough
Step 1: Collect reference data before the experiment. Ask respondents for their current situation - travel time, cost, or health state - before the choice tasks.
Step 2: Create derived value expressions. Write expressions that compute attribute levels as offsets from the respondent's reference values.
Step 3: Link derived values to experiment levels. Configure the choice experiment to use derived value expressions as level definitions.
Step 4: Preview with different reference values. Test with several different reference inputs to confirm all derived levels display correctly.
Step 5: Export reference and choice data together. SurveyEngine exports both the reference values and the choice responses for joint analysis.
Try the live tutorial
The live tutorial is a working SurveyEngine survey. Click through it as a respondent to see the finished result.
Then download the tutorial ZIP file and upload it to your SurveyEngine account to examine how it was built.
Preview the live tutorial or download the ZIP file to load it into your account.
References
Ready to try it? Open a free SurveyEngine account, download the tutorial ZIP and upload it to your account.
Or Contact us at support@surveyengine.com — we're glad to help.