ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory
Adjusting for Heterogeneity in the Use of Subjective Scales
Friday, August 28, 2026 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EDT
Vernon Smith Hall (formerly Metropolitan Building), 5075 (ICES Classroom)
The ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory of the Fall 2026 semester will feature:
University of Colorado
Adjusting for Heterogeneity in the Use of Subjective Scales
Abstract
Analyses of survey data may be confounded if people use response scales differently. We formalize and generalize the theory that underlies using “calibration questions,” such as vignettes, to adjust for scale-use heterogeneity. Building on a new finding, in our (N ≈ 10, 000) and existing data, that the “translation” between different respondents’ scale use when answering calibration questions is approximately linear, we develop an estimator that adjusts for scale-use heterogeneity in regressions. We validate our estimator using subjective ratings of height and weight, and we illustrate its application to life satisfaction regressions.
For more information about the Seminar Series, please visit the Seminar Schedule homepage.
