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The influx of skeptics: an investigation of the diffusion cycle effect on online review

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  • Rae Yule Kim

    (Rutgers University, Rutgers Business School)

Abstract

Can online review ratings be lower for more popular products? Ironically, it might be inevitable. We utilize diffusion theory and predict that the influx of skeptic users into online reviews might be prevalent as products gain in popularity. We examined 6776 apps with more than one hundred installs and review counts on Google Playstore about the trends in their user ratings by the number of installs. We visualize how the diffusion cycle might affect this phenomenon and examine anomaly in the trend of review ratings by the number of installs to detect the significant influx of skeptic users. Interestingly, most of the apps in the early diffusion stage received significantly high ratings, and clustering results indicated a significant skeptics loop in the review ratings past the early diffusion stage. We suggest that businesses can keep skeptics satisfied by connecting experiences and creating newness.

Suggested Citation

  • Rae Yule Kim, 2020. "The influx of skeptics: an investigation of the diffusion cycle effect on online review," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(4), pages 821-835, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:30:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s12525-020-00417-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s12525-020-00417-4
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    Cited by:

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    2. Prashanth Ravula, 2023. "Impact of delivery performance on online review ratings: the role of temporal distance of ratings," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(2), pages 149-159, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Online review; Negative review; Mobile app adoption; Product adoption; Innovation diffusion; Mobile app market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing

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