Are Used Cars More Sustainable? Price Prediction Based on Linear Regression
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article dealt with predicting car price based on linear regression.
The idea of the article is very good and well written.
Can the author think of some other model and compare between them to find which one is performing better in predicting car price.
In model validation section instate of using only RMSR I suggest authors ato use othe criteria also such as AIC value of the regression model, MAE.
I suggest authors to rearrange write the result section and bring the formula of RMSE in materials and method section.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 1
We would like to thank the reviewer for the insightful and helpful feedback. As requested, we edited the paper based on the provided comments. In more detail here is our reply to each comment:
Point 1: Can the author think of some other model and compare between them to find which one is performing better in predicting car price.
Response 1: Adding other models and making a comparison was not the goal of this paper, we want to focus on one regression model based on the title of the paper and explore it deeply in support of Sustainability. Then, in the near future, we could reference this paper with other models and make that comparison as mentioned in the conclusion.
Point 2: In model validation section instate of using only RMSR I suggest authors ato use othe criteria also such as AIC value of the regression model, MAE.
Response 2: The validation part was fixed based on our analysis and reorganized through the methodology and while answering the second question which seems sufficient for our argument.
Point 3: I suggest authors to rearrange write the result section and bring the formula of RMSE in materials and method section.
Response 3: The result and methodology are edited to reflect the suggestion.
Eventually, the whole paper went through extensive editing of the English language and writing style using proofreading services.
Best,
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Reviewer’s Comments
General Comments
Sentence coherence must be given close attention.
The mathematical equation for the Linear regression model used in this research is distinctly missing. Is it the baseline model or ????
Specific Comments
Page 1 Line 1. Please consider writing for example the objective, issue, research questions, methodology, results, limitations and future research in the Abstract. Be brief.
Page 1 Line 3 – difficult economic situations (English)
Page 2, Line 56 - Is this the objective of this study? If so, you can consider this statement in the Abstract.
Page 2, Line 59 – Is this supposed to be “prediction”?
Page 2, Line 78 - Please check sentence structures for coherence.
Page 2, Line 83 - Most of these studies use advanced machine learning models. Please write citations for this sentence.
Page 2, Line 84 - Some of these also utilize neural networks (insert citations) and deep learning (insert citations) models.
Page 3, Line 92 – “The price of the cars was first analyzed” … What else were analyzed?
Page 4, Line 146 - Please explain what is meant by "buying a used car can be sustainable"?
Please define sustainable. If sustainable could be defined upfront, it would help the reader understand its specific context though references to emissions were mentioned in passing.
Page 4, Line 151 - The rising prices of gasoline will soon prevent the remaining raw materials from being used. What are the "remaining raw materials from being used"? What materials?
Page 4, Line 164 - effects in China of these programs…… What programs?
Page 4, Line 169 - If a new technology makes it possible for drivers to sell their old gasoline cars …. This is incoherent. Please consider rewriting this sentence.
Page 4, Line 186 - investment that should be carefully consider [29,30]. … Please consider rewriting this paragraph for clarity.
Page 4, Line 189 - Hybrid cars aren’t always talked about the lead-acid batteries… This sentence lacks coherence.
Page 5, Line 202 – 2.2.4 Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. What is reuse, reduce and recycle in the context of used cars? Please reconsider writing this para to align with the sub-heading.
Page 5, Line 213 – 3. Methodology In this sub-heading Methodology, please write the steps that were followed in the conduct of this research. The emphasis is METHODS (STEPS) and the statistical or research tools used. If you are in doubt, please refer to a book about research methods particularly the chapter on Methodology.
Page 5, Line 225 – “They”. Who are they?
Page 5, Line 236. 3.2. Linear Regression Model. What is the regression model? Isn't there a mathematical model for the regression model in this research?
Page 7, Line 284 - Some of the features of the car can be customized according to the make and model What is meant by “can be customized”? What is the purpose of this sentence.
Page 7, Line 284 - 285. Some of the features of the car can be customized according to the make and model. For instance, the number of doors and engine cylinders can be changed. Please reconsider rewriting these sentences for coherence.
Page 7, Line 280 to 293 – Section 4.1 (R.Q.1). What regression model was used? Is there a regression model i.e. an equation?
Page 9, Line 296. Where is the regression model?
Page 10, Line 318 - Where or what are the machine learning techniques used in this research?
Page 10, Line 325-326. What is the purpose of this sentence? How does it relate to the factors/features assuming machine learning was used?
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 2
We would like to thank the reviewer for the insightful and thorough feedback. As requested, we edited everything based on the comments. In more detail here is our reply to each comment:
General Comments
Point 1: Sentence coherence must be given close attention.
Response 1: the whole paper went through extensive editing of the English language and writing style using proofreading services.Point 2: The mathematical equation for the Linear regression model used in this research is distinctly missing. Is it the baseline model or ????
Response 2: The section of the linear regression model in methodology was rewritten to be more clear and include mathematical equations.
Specific Comments
Point 3: Page 1 Line 1. Please consider writing for example the objective, issue, research questions, methodology, results, limitations, and future research in the Abstract. Be brief.
Response 3: We edited the abstract to include all the previous requirements
Point 4: Page 1 Line 3 – difficult economic situations (English)
Response 4: We used better wording for this sentence and use a proofreading service to fix all the language issues in the paper
Point 5: Page 2, Line 56 - Is this the objective of this study? If so, you can consider this statement in the Abstract.
Response 5: Done and mentioned above
Point 6: Page 2, Line 59 – Is this supposed to be a “prediction”?
Response 6: We edited the typo
Point 7: Page 2, Line 78 - Please check sentence structures for coherence.
Response 7: All these types of comments are fixed using proofreading services.
Point 8: Page 2, Line 83 - Most of these studies use advanced machine learning models. Please write citations for this sentence.
Response 8: We added more citations for this sentence and the one following to it.
Point 9: Page 2, Line 84 - Some of these also utilize neural networks (insert citations) and deep learning (insert citations) models.
Response 9: More citations were added as required on both parts.
Point 10: Page 3, Line 92 – “The price of the cars was first analyzed” … What else was analyzed?
Response 10: The phrase was rewritten for clarity.
Point 11: Page 4, Line 146 - Please explain what is meant by "buying a used car can be sustainable"?
Please define sustainable. If sustainable could be defined upfront, it would help the reader understand its specific context though references to emissions were mentioned in passing.
Response 11: we added two paragraphs explaining that.
Point 12: Page 4, Line 151 - The rising prices of gasoline will soon prevent the remaining raw materials from being used. What are the "remaining raw materials from being used"? What materials?
Response 12: The waste materials that are thrown away are transformed into useful resources, such as raw materials and fuel. It is mentioned above to clarify.
Point 13: Page 4, Line 164 - effects in China of these programs…… What programs?
Response 13: The sentence is rewritten for clarity.
Point 14: Page 4, Line 169 - If a new technology makes it possible for drivers to sell their old gasoline cars …. This is incoherent. Please consider rewriting this sentence.
Response 14: The whole part is rewritten.
Point 15: Page 4, Line 186 - investment that should be carefully consider [29,30]. … Please consider rewriting this paragraph for clarity.
Response 15: The sentence is rewritten for clarity
Point 16: Page 4, Line 189 - Hybrid cars aren’t always talked about the lead-acid batteries… This sentence lacks coherence.
Response 16: The sentence is rewritten for clarity
Point 17: Page 5, Line 202 – 2.2.4 Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. What is reuse, reduce and recycle in the context of used cars? Please reconsider writing this para to align with the sub-heading.
Response 17: we rewrite the whole section
Point 18: Page 5, Line 213 – 3. Methodology In this sub-heading Methodology, please write the steps that were followed in the conduct of this research. The emphasis is METHODS (STEPS) and the statistical or research tools used. If you are in doubt, please refer to a book about research methods particularly the chapter on Methodology.
Response 18: The methodology section was rewritten to clarify our train of thought in a more organized approach.
Point 19: Page 5, Line 225 – “They”. Who are they?
Response 19: The typo is fixed.
Point 20: Page 5, Line 236. 3.2. Linear Regression Model. What is the regression model? Isn't there a mathematical model for the regression model in this research?
Response 20: The linear regression model section was rewritten to include a mathematical explanation and more clarification.
Point 21: Page 7, Line 284 - Some of the features of the car can be customized according to the make and model What is meant by “can be customized”? What is the purpose of this sentence.
Response 21: we fixed the wrong wording
Point 22: Page 7, Line 284 - 285. Some of the features of the car can be customized according to the make and model. For instance, the number of doors and engine cylinders can be changed. Please reconsider rewriting these sentences for coherence.
Response 22: The whole sentences were rewritten.
Point 23: Page 7, Line 280 to 293 – Section 4.1 (R.Q.1). What regression model was used? Is there a regression model i.e. an equation?
Page 9, Line 296. Where is the regression model?
Response 23: Done in the linear regression model section.
Point 24: Page 10, Line 318 - Where or what are the machine learning techniques used in this research?
Response 24: Fixed the wrong wording.
Point 25: Page 10, Line 325-326. What is the purpose of this sentence? How does it relate to the factors/features assuming machine learning was used?
Response 25: We rewrote some parts and added other sentences to clarify
Best Regards,
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
· This paper proposed a linear regression model for used car price forecasting.
· The contribution of the study is too limited. Linear regression has several limitations in modeling, sensitivity to outliers, simplicity for modeling complex systems, etc. For a real-life problem particularly in the context of Sustainability (multi-actors, multi-dimensional,...), this modeling approach is challenging.
· What is the proposed model?
· What are the assumptions?
· How the model is evaluated?
· How this model can be compared to other ML approaches?
· What are the gaps in the literature? How the authors contributed to the gaps in this paper?
· Unfortunately, the paper is in the development phase and not ready for publication
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 3
We would like to thank the reviewer for the insightful and meaningful feedback. As requested, we edited the paper based on the provided comments. In more detail here is our reply to each comment:
Point 1
· What is the proposed model?
· What are the assumptions?
· How the model is evaluated?
Response 1: We clarify the proposed model better, including our assumptions, and the model validation/evaluation approach. The validation part was fixed as recommended.Point 2:
· How this model can be compared to other ML approaches?
Response 2: Adding other models and making a comparison was not the goal of this paper, we want to focus on one regression model based on the title of the paper and explore it deeply in support of Sustainability. Then, in the near future, we could reference this paper with other models and make that comparison as mentioned in the conclusion.
Point 3:
· What are the gaps in the literature? How the authors contributed to the gaps in this paper?
Response 3: The research gap was addressed and a lot of references were added to support our argument.
Eventually, the whole paper went through extensive editing of the English language and writing style using proofreading services.
Best regards,
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Good. You have addressed the comments.
Thank you.
Author Response
Glad to hear that.
Thank you for your useful feedback.
