Sequential and Temporal Dynamics of Online Opinion

David Godes () and José C. Silva ()
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David Godes: Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
José C. Silva: Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708

Marketing Science, 2012, vol. 31, issue 3, 448-473

Abstract: We investigate the evolution of online ratings over time and sequence. We first establish that there exist two distinct dynamic processes, one as a function of the amount of time a book has been available for review and another as a function of the sequence of reviews themselves. We find that, once we control for calendar date, the residual average temporal pattern is increasing. This is counter to existing findings that suggest that without this calendar-date control, the pattern is decreasing. With respect to sequential dynamics, we find that ratings decrease: the n th rating is, on average, lower than the n -1th when controlling for time, reviewer effects, and book effects. We test and find some support for existing theories for this decline based on motivation. We then offer two additional explanations for this "order effect." We find support for the idea that one's ability to assess the diagnosticity of previous reviews decreases: when previous reviewers are very different, more reviews may thus lead to more purchase errors and lower ratings.

Keywords: word of mouth; online reviews; networks; Internet marketing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (90)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormksc:v:31:y:2012:i:3:p:448-473

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