Path Data in Marketing: An Integrative Framework and Prospectus for Model-Building

44 Pages Posted: 15 Sep 2006

See all articles by Sam K. Hui

Sam K. Hui

New York University (NYU) - Department of Marketing

Peter Fader

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department

Eric Bradlow

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department

Date Written: August 7, 2007

Abstract

Many datasets, from different and seemingly unrelated marketing domains, all involve "paths" - records of consumers' movements in a spatial configuration. Path data contain valuable information for marketing researchers because they describe how consumers interact with their environment and make dynamic choices. As data collection technologies improve and researchers continue to ask deeper questions about consumers' motivations and behaviors, path datasets will become more common, and play a more central role in marketing research.

To guide future research in this area, we review the previous literature, propose a formal definition of paths, and derive a unifying framework that allows us to classify different kinds of paths. We identify and discuss two primary dimensions (characteristics of the spatial configuration and the agent) as well as six underlying sub-dimensions. Based on this framework, we cover a range of important operational issues that should be taken into account as researchers begin to build formal models of path-related phenomena. We close with a brief look into the future of path-based models, and a call for researchers to address some of these emerging issues.

Keywords: Marketing, Path Data, Retailing, Eye Tracking, Clickstream

Suggested Citation

Hui, Sam K. and Fader, Peter and Bradlow, Eric, Path Data in Marketing: An Integrative Framework and Prospectus for Model-Building (August 7, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=930141 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.930141

Sam K. Hui

New York University (NYU) - Department of Marketing ( email )

Henry Kaufman Ctr
44 W 4 St.
New York, NY
United States

Peter Fader (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department ( email )

700 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
3730 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6340
United States

Eric Bradlow

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department ( email )

700 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
3730 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6340
United States
215-898-8255 (Phone)

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