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. 2023 Dec;31(6):1017-1022.
doi: 10.1037/pha0000643. Epub 2023 Mar 6.

Presentation matters: Effects of cigarette purchase task design on systematic data and purchasing behavior

Devin C Tomlinson  1 , Roberta Freitas-Lemos  1 , Allison N Tegge  1 , Yu-Hua Yeh  1 , Candice L Dwyer  1 , Jeffrey S Stein  1 , Warren K Bickel  1
Affiliations

Presentation matters: Effects of cigarette purchase task design on systematic data and purchasing behavior

Devin C Tomlinson et al. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Hypothetical purchase tasks (HPTs) are effective tools for evaluating participants' demand for substances. The present study evaluated the effect of task presentation on producing unsystematic data and purchasing behavior in a sample of individuals who smoke cigarettes. Participants (n = 365) were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and randomly assigned to complete two of three HPT presentations: List (prices on one page in an increasing order), Ascending (one price per page in an increasing order), or Random (one price per page in a random order). We evaluated outcomes using a mixed model regression with a random effect for participants. We observed a significant effect of task presentation on passing the criterion assessing consistency in effects of contiguous prices (i.e., Bounce; X²(2) = 13.31, p = .001). A significant effect of task presentation on Trend or Reversals from Zero was not observed. For purchasing behavior, we observed a significant effect of task presentation on R², X²(2) = 17.89, p < .001; BP₁, X²(2) = 13.64, p = .001; ln(α), X²(2) = 332.94, p < .001; and ln(Omax), X²(2) = 20.26, p < .001; we did not observe a significant effect of task presentation on ln(Q₀) or ln(Pmax). We recommend against using the Random HPT presentation to avoid unsystematic data. While the List and Ascending presentations do not differ across unsystematic criteria or purchasing behavior, the List presentation may be preferred due to participant experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests

Although the following activities/relationships do not create a conflict of interest pertaining to this manuscript, in the interest of full disclosure, Dr. Bickel would like to report the following: W. K. Bickel is a principal of HealthSim, LLC; BEAM Diagnostics, Inc.; and Red 5 Group, LLC. In addition, he serves on the scientific advisory board for Sober Grid, Inc., and Ria Health, is a consultant for Alkermes, Inc., and works on a project supported by Indivior, Inc. A. N Tegge would like to report work on a project supported by Indivior, Inc. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Proportion of individuals passing the A) Bounce, B) Trend, and C) Reversals from Zero criterion from Stein et al. (2015; N=730 tasks). Mean D) R2 for model fit, E) Breakpoint (BP1), F) intensity (ln(Q0)), G) elasticity (ln(α)), H) price maximum (ln(Pmax)), and I) output maximum (ln(Omax)) per group for hypothetical purchase tasks (N = 358 tasks passing all three Stein et al. (2015) criteria). Error bars represent standard error.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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