Assessing Student Preferences for Quantitative Methods Courses Using Discrete Choice Experiments

Abstract

Understanding how students choose quantitative methods courses is important for both instructors and departments: Meeting student preferences increases motivation and engagement, enhances learning, can contribute to reducing statistics anxiety, and ensures enrollment. This article uses a discrete choice experiment to causally assess sociology students’ course preferences. In contrast to existing experimental interventions, choice experiments allow for an estimation of treatment effects prior to implementing an instructional design. Using data collected at a German university as a case study, this contribution provides insights and discusses practical implications of student preferences for quantitative methods courses. In the study, students prefer courses that use hands-on forms of assessment, follow a regular schedule, offer more credit points, and mix undergraduate and graduate students. The accompanying online material provides a step-by-step introduction to the design of discrete choice experiments, allowing a replication of the study and an implementation of the methodology in other contexts.