User Rating Systems & Social Evaluation

User rating systems have become a popular way for a large number of consumers to publicize their evaluation. Under the traditional editorial review process, one person, who was most likely a psuedo-expert in the field, rated and documented his/her experience with the item. While the reviewer in this case was most likely more well informed than your average consumer, his/her review only summarized one person’s beleifs.

User rating systems, however, give the power to the numbers and in my opinion are more likely to produce accurate reviews. If only one person reviews one instance of the product, the review will have many potential sources for error such as a manufacturing defect. Another positive aspect of social evaluation is that you get a wholistic review of the item. If the reviewer in the traditional style is only grading the item based upon a certain criteria of which does not entirely reflect why someone might want that item, the review can be misleading.

 

 

Social evaluation of products allows for the creation and greater distribution of the elite items. Companies that create a product that does not satisfy their customers can learn from user reviews and make the necesary modifications. Products that do satisfy the consumers receive 5 stars and are therefore viewed and purchased more frequently.

 
-Blake M.

Tags: User Rating System, Traditional Editorial Reviews, CS 292, Amazon

~ by blakers85 on April 5, 2008.