How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com

Chih Hung Peng; Dezhi Yin; Chih Ping Wei; Han Zhang

How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com

Chih Hung Peng, Dezhi Yin, Chih Ping Wei, Han Zhang

Office of the Dean of Business

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Although longer reviews are generally considered more helpful, no research has investigated whether "the more the better" also applies to the expression of emotions. This paper explores the distinct effects of review length and emotional intensity. We propose that, in contrast to review length, the intensity of emotions has a negative effect on review helpfulness, and that this effect only applies to positive emotions. Additionally, drawing on elaboration likelihood model and the literature on the social functions of emotions, we predict that the respective effects of review length and emotional intensity are moderated by reviewer trustworthiness and the difficulty of reading review content. To test these hypotheses, we collected a rich data set from Epinions.com-a leading provider of consumer reviews. Our findings reveal the importance of taking the intensity of emotions into consideration when evaluating review helpfulness, and the results carry important practical implications.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ICIS 2014 Proceedings - Building a Better World Through Information Systems
Publisher	Association for Information Systems
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Print)	9781634396943
Publication status	Published - Dec 2014
Event	35th International Conference on Information Systems: Building a Better World Through Information Systems, ICIS 2014 - Auckland, New Zealand Duration: 14 Dec 2014 → 17 Dec 2014 https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2014 (Conference proceedings)

Publication series

Name	International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS

Conference

Conference	35th International Conference on Information Systems: Building a Better World Through Information Systems, ICIS 2014
Country/Territory	New Zealand
City	Auckland
Period	14/12/14 → 17/12/14
Internet address	https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2014 (Conference proceedings)

Scopus Subject Areas

Information Systems
Computer Science Applications

User-Defined Keywords

E-business
Emotion
Emotional intensity
Empirical analysis
Online review
Review helpfulness

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2014/proceedings/EBusiness/38

Cite this

Peng, C. H., Yin, D., Wei, C. P., & Zhang, H. (2014). How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com. In ICIS 2014 Proceedings - Building a Better World Through Information Systems Article 38 (International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS). Association for Information Systems. https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2014/proceedings/EBusiness/38

@inproceedings{617ad82f2fb044e7b8722961b31248ad,

title = "How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com",

abstract = "Although longer reviews are generally considered more helpful, no research has investigated whether {"}the more the better{"} also applies to the expression of emotions. This paper explores the distinct effects of review length and emotional intensity. We propose that, in contrast to review length, the intensity of emotions has a negative effect on review helpfulness, and that this effect only applies to positive emotions. Additionally, drawing on elaboration likelihood model and the literature on the social functions of emotions, we predict that the respective effects of review length and emotional intensity are moderated by reviewer trustworthiness and the difficulty of reading review content. To test these hypotheses, we collected a rich data set from Epinions.com-a leading provider of consumer reviews. Our findings reveal the importance of taking the intensity of emotions into consideration when evaluating review helpfulness, and the results carry important practical implications.",

keywords = "E-business, Emotion, Emotional intensity, Empirical analysis, Online review, Review helpfulness",

author = "Peng, {Chih Hung} and Dezhi Yin and Wei, {Chih Ping} and Han Zhang",

year = "2014",

month = dec,

language = "English",

isbn = "9781634396943",

series = "International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS",

publisher = "Association for Information Systems",

booktitle = "ICIS 2014 Proceedings - Building a Better World Through Information Systems",

address = "United States",

note = "35th International Conference on Information Systems: Building a Better World Through Information Systems, ICIS 2014 ; Conference date: 14-12-2014 Through 17-12-2014",

url = "https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2014",

}

Peng, CH, Yin, D, Wei, CP & Zhang, H 2014, How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com. in ICIS 2014 Proceedings - Building a Better World Through Information Systems., 38, International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS, Association for Information Systems, 35th International Conference on Information Systems: Building a Better World Through Information Systems, ICIS 2014, Auckland, New Zealand, 14/12/14. <https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2014/proceedings/EBusiness/38>

How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com. / Peng, Chih Hung; Yin, Dezhi; Wei, Chih Ping et al.
ICIS 2014 Proceedings - Building a Better World Through Information Systems. Association for Information Systems, 2014. 38 (International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness

T2 - 35th International Conference on Information Systems: Building a Better World Through Information Systems, ICIS 2014

AU - Peng, Chih Hung

AU - Yin, Dezhi

AU - Wei, Chih Ping

AU - Zhang, Han

PY - 2014/12

Y1 - 2014/12

N2 - Although longer reviews are generally considered more helpful, no research has investigated whether "the more the better" also applies to the expression of emotions. This paper explores the distinct effects of review length and emotional intensity. We propose that, in contrast to review length, the intensity of emotions has a negative effect on review helpfulness, and that this effect only applies to positive emotions. Additionally, drawing on elaboration likelihood model and the literature on the social functions of emotions, we predict that the respective effects of review length and emotional intensity are moderated by reviewer trustworthiness and the difficulty of reading review content. To test these hypotheses, we collected a rich data set from Epinions.com-a leading provider of consumer reviews. Our findings reveal the importance of taking the intensity of emotions into consideration when evaluating review helpfulness, and the results carry important practical implications.

AB - Although longer reviews are generally considered more helpful, no research has investigated whether "the more the better" also applies to the expression of emotions. This paper explores the distinct effects of review length and emotional intensity. We propose that, in contrast to review length, the intensity of emotions has a negative effect on review helpfulness, and that this effect only applies to positive emotions. Additionally, drawing on elaboration likelihood model and the literature on the social functions of emotions, we predict that the respective effects of review length and emotional intensity are moderated by reviewer trustworthiness and the difficulty of reading review content. To test these hypotheses, we collected a rich data set from Epinions.com-a leading provider of consumer reviews. Our findings reveal the importance of taking the intensity of emotions into consideration when evaluating review helpfulness, and the results carry important practical implications.

KW - E-business

KW - Emotion

KW - Emotional intensity

KW - Empirical analysis

KW - Online review

KW - Review helpfulness

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107712308&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference proceeding

AN - SCOPUS:85107712308

SN - 9781634396943

T3 - International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS

BT - ICIS 2014 Proceedings - Building a Better World Through Information Systems

PB - Association for Information Systems

Y2 - 14 December 2014 through 17 December 2014

ER -

How and when review length and emotional intensity influence review helpfulness: Empirical evidence from Epinions.com

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Scopus Subject Areas

User-Defined Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this