Create new variables that contain the Sawtooth-style preference shares (formula below) for the alternatives in a MaxDiff latent class analysis, MaxDiff hierarchical Bayes, or MaxDiff ensemble output. The shares are computed from the individual-level coefficients generated by the MaxDiff analysis. You should select the output before running this script.
Example
The script produces a SUMMARY table with the new variables:
Technical details
Each respondent's coefficients are first zero-centered by subtracting the average. The zero-centered utility score for alternative \(j\) is denoted \(u_j\). The un-scaled Sawtooth-style preference parameter for alternative \(j\) is then:
\[P_j = \frac{e^{u_1}}{e^{u_1} + K - 1}\]
where \(K\) is the number of alternatives that were shown to the respondent in each task of the MaxDiff experiment.
The final Sawtooth-style preference share is obtained by scaling these parameters so that they add up to 1 (or 100%):
\[S_j = \frac{P^{u_j}}{\sum_jP_j}\]
How to apply the QScript in Q
- Start typing the name of the QScript into the Search features and data box in the top right of the Q window.
- Click on the QScript when it appears in the QScripts and Rules section of the search results.
OR
- Select Automate > Browse Online Library.
- Select this QScript from the list.
Customizing the QScript
This QScript is written in JavaScript and can be customized by copying and modifying the JavaScript.
Customizing QScripts in Q4.11 and more recent versions
- Start typing the name of the QScript into the Search features and data box in the top right of the Q window.
- Hover your mouse over the QScript when it appears in the QScripts and Rules section of the search results.
- Press Edit a Copy (bottom-left corner of the preview).
- Modify the JavaScript (see QScripts for more detail on this).
- Either:
- Run the QScript, by pressing the blue triangle button.
- Save the QScript and run it at a later time, using Automate > Run QScript (Macro) from File.
Customizing QScripts in older versions
- Copy the JavaScript shown on this page.
- Create a new text file, giving it a file extension of .QScript. See here for more information about how to do this.
- Modify the JavaScript (see QScripts for more detail on this).
- Run the file using Automate > Run QScript (Macro) from File.