Publication Date
Spring 2013
Degree Type
Master's Project
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Computer Science
Abstract
In this paper we focus on automatically classifying product reviews as either helpful or unhelpful using machine learning techniques, namely, SVM classifiers. Using LIBSVM and a set of Amazon product reviews from 25 product categories, we train models for each category to determine if a review will be helpful or unhelpful. Previous work has focused on training one classifier for all reviews in the data set, but we hypothesize that a distinct model for each of the 25 product types available in the review dataset will improve the accuracy of classification. ! Furthermore, we develop a framework to inform authors on the fly if their review is predicted to be of great use (helpful) to other readers, with the assumption that authors are more likely to rethink their review post and amend it to be of maximum utility to other readers when given some feedback on whether or not it will be found helpful or unhelpful. ! Using past research as a baseline, we find that specialized SVM classifiers outperform higher level models of review helpfulness prediction.
Recommended Citation
Bolter, Scott, "Predicting Product Review Helpfulness Using Machine Learning and Specialized Classification Models" (2013). Master's Projects. 348.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.4wez-ndf6
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_projects/348
