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Quantifiable vs Written Reviews

Methodology

There are a variety of systems through which individuals can rate music, which can be broken down into two categories: quantifiable and written. Types of quantifiable reviews include a 5-star system, a like/dislike system, a letter grade system, and a point rating system. Written reviews are generally used in conjunction with a quantifiable review and reveal to the reader a more in-depth understanding or interpretation of the music.

Pros and Cons

Quantifiable and written reviews each have their pros and cons which makes them therefore both valuable for listeners and music recommenders alike. Quantifiable reviews are much simpler and easier for listeners to submit, immediately understand, and/or sift through. Each type of quantifiable review system also has its pros and cons, and the ideal system would be simple enough that users would have the time to submit recommendations through it, while exhibiting enough discrimination between the user's opinions of music. Most importantly, quantifiable reviews can be understood and statistically analyzed by a personalized music recommendation engine. On the other hand, written reviews are much more in-depth and contain valuable information about specific characteristics of the music. However, they take a lot of time to write and most listeners do not have the time or writing ability to write a good review.