Model selection for direct marketing : performance criteria and validation methods

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Marketing Intelligence & Planning

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Volume

26

Issue

3

First Page

275

Last Page

292

Publisher

Emerald Publishing Limited

Keywords

Database marketing, Direct marketing, Modelling, Performance criteria, Neural nets

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of competing methods and model selection, which are non-trivial issues given the financial implications. Researchers have adopted various methods including statistical models and machine learning methods such as neural networks to assist decision making in direct marketing. However, due to the different performance criteria and validation techniques currently in practice, comparing different methods is often not straightforward. Design/methodology/approach – This study compares the performance of neural networks with that of classification and regression tree, latent class models and logistic regression using three criteria – simple error rate, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and cumulative lift – and two validation methods, i.e. bootstrap and stratified k-fold cross-validation. Systematic experiments are conducted to compare their performance. Findings – The results suggest that these methods vary in performance across different criteria and validation methods. Overall, neural networks outperform the others in AUROC value and cumulative lifts, and the stratified ten-fold cross-validation produces more accurate results than bootstrap validation. Practical implications – To select predictive models to support direct marketing decisions, researchers need to adopt appropriate performance criteria and validation procedures. Originality/value – The study addresses the key issues in model selection, i.e. performance criteria and validation methods, and conducts systematic analyses to generate the findings and practical implications.

DOI

10.1108/02634500810871339

Print ISSN

02634503

E-ISSN

17588049

Publisher Statement

Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Wong, M. L. (2008). Model selection for direct marketing: Performance criteria and validation methods. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 26(3), 275-292. doi: 10.1108/02634500810871339

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