Review meta-analysis — 156 studies, 214 effect sizes, 69,006 observations
Created 2026-06-23
Summary
Claim: A meta-analysis of 156 studies / 214 effect sizes / 69,006 observations (Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services) found all review antecedents significantly affect purchase intention, with review valence strongest (r = 0.563).
Source: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services meta-analysis. Peer-reviewed academic.
Confidence: Verified.
Why this matters for Candid: Independent academic corroboration of the review-impact evidence beyond Luca and Spiegel. Reviews influence purchase intention across contexts, with review valence (positive vs negative tone) the strongest predictor. Reinforces Factor 5 — Trust/review moats (conversion, not just ranking).