Using machine learning and natural language processing to measure consumer reviews for product attribute insights

Researchers from Western University, SUNY Buffalo State College, University of Cincinnati, and City University of Hong Kong published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that presents a methodological framework for managers to extract and monitor information related to products and their attributes from consumer reviews. Understanding how concrete product attributes form higher-level benefits for consumers can benefit various corporate teams. Concrete, or "engineered attributes" refer to technical specifications and product features. For example, in the context of tablet computers, such attributes include RAM, CPU, weight, and screen resolution. Understanding how combinations of these lower-level attributes form higher-level benefits, or "meta-attributes," for consumers, such as Hardware and Connectivity, can provide managers with actionable insights.