Reliability of Polarized Projective Mapping with Consumers

The hedonic thresholds methodology was recently proposed which allows for determination of two new sensorial thresholds, the compromised acceptance threshold and the hedonic rejection threshold (HRT). For a new methodology to be accepted by the scientific community, its ability to produce reliable results must be demonstrated. Thus, this study sought to validate this new methodology when used to calculate the HRT. In order to do so, the analytical performance indices of precision (repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility), accuracy and robustness for the results for the HRT calculation were measured. The results of seven experiments demonstrated that the methodology possesses high repeatability, intermediate precision and robustness, and satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility. It was therefore concluded that the HRT determination methodology satisfactorily met the analytical performance criteria evaluated, therefore generating reliable results. Practical applications The hedonic thresholds methodology (HTM) has numerous applications, including the application of a more severe thermal treatment to obtain greater microbial or enzymatic inactivation, the determination of food shelf life based on its sensory acceptance, the reduction of specific, expensive ingredients in food formulations, reduction of ingredients that are harmful to health when consumed in excess (e.g., sucrose, sodium, and fat), determination of the maximum “defect” threshold that may be present in food and others. The HTM is a recently proposed methodology; therefore, the reliability of the values of the hedonic rejection threshold must be validated, calculated via the HTM. Reliability of the HRT results was confirmed when HTM validation was performed. Thus, the methodology can undoubtedly be applied for the intended purpose.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the hedonic threshold methodology in determining the hedonic rejection threshold

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Minim

et al. 2018

“…Approaches to term generation reflected common procedures in the different research laboratories. In Study 1, the sensory terms used in each study were selected based on results from previous studies in which consumers were asked to generate sensory vocabulary for similar samples (de Saldamando, Antúnez, Torres‐Moreno, Giménez, & Ares, ). In Studies 2 and 3, the list of terms was developed based on the attributes selected by the trained assessors for DA.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of RATA questions with descriptive analysis: Insights from three studies with complex/similar products

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Coste

et al. 2018

Self Cite

Consumer‐based methods for sensory product characterization continue to gain popularity. Considering that past research is mostly limited to cases where samples are sensorially simple or markedly different, the aim of this study was to compare descriptive analysis (DA) by trained assessors with product characterizations from consumers using rate‐all‐that‐apply (RATA) questions using samples that can be regarded as quite similar or quite complex. The results from three studies showed that sample differentiation was higher in DA than RATA and that information about sample similarities and differences tended to be dissimilar. The exception was Study 1 where samples were least complex. The discrepancy between the two types of panels was least evident for appearance and color attributes and basic tastes (sweet, sour, and salty), and in these instances, the correlation between attribute intensities was clearly linear (R2 = 0.46). The discrepancy was highest for complex sensory terms and terms relating to specific odors/flavors. While past research suggests that it may be possible to improve the agreement between the two methods by providing consumers with short training (samples, terms, and rating scale), practitioners should consider that training of consumers may reduce the ecological validity of their responses. Practical applications Characterization of the properties of products is a cornerstone activity for sensory professionals, and to achieve this task, several methods are available. This study contributes insight regarding the choice of descriptive analysis (DA) with trained assessors or rate‐all‐that‐apply (RATA) questions with consumers. If the products are not sensorially complex, then product characterization by consumers provide the same insights as DA. However, this study shows that when samples are sensorially complex and/or similar, RATA is less discriminative than DA and provides information about sample similarities and differences that is not the same as that generated by DA. Practitioners are advised to select sensory description methodology based on the objectives of their research, and when an understanding of consumers' perceptions of products is desired, A consumer‐based methodology should be used.

“…The procedures and the evaluated criteria to validate the HTM/CAT were based on validation studies of sensory methodologies (Boutrolle et al, ; Louw et al, ; Pagès & Husson, ; Saldamando et al, ; Silva et al, ; Vidal et al, ; Worch, Lê, Punter, & Pagès, ; Worch, Crine, Gruel, & Lê, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies that assess only a few specific analytical indexes can be found in the literature (Boutrolle, Arranz, Rogeaux, & Delarue, ; Léon, Couronne, Marcuz, & Koster, ). The most studied analytical indexes in sensory validation methodologies are precision, accuracy, and robustness (Bi & Kuesten, ; Boutrolle et al, ; Louw et al, ; Léon et al, ; Purdy, Armstrong, & Mc Ilveen, ; Saldamando, Antúnez, Torres‐Moreno, Giménez, & Ares, ; Silva et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the hedonic threshold methodology in determining the compromised acceptance threshold

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Minim

et al. 2017

The compromised acceptance threshold (CAT) indicates the intensity of a stimulus from which product acceptance is significantly altered. This new affective threshold is determined by hedonic threshold methodology (HTM). The levels of analytical performance associated with precision (repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility), accuracy, and robustness of CAT results were investigated. The methodology met the pre-established criteria, being accurate in assessments carried out consecutively (repeatability), in tests separated by a certain period of time as well as with different consumer panels (intermediate precision), and in tests carried out in different facilities (reproducibility). The methodology presented suitable accuracy, though slightly conservative, which may be desirable. The methodology was also shown to be robust as it allowed the reduction of panel members from 150 to 70 consumers. In this context, the methodology-which presented reliable results as well as high precision, accuracy, and robustness-was validated. Practical applicationsThe need for showing the quality of sensory measurements is being increasingly recognized and required for the acceptance of new methodologies within the scientific community, given that unreliable analytical data may lead to dreadful decisions as well as long-lasting financial losses.Results from the present work show that the data obtained through the hedonic threshold methodology/compromised acceptance threshold methodology met all criteria of the evaluated analytical indexes. Thus, one may conclude that this methodology has suitable precision (repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility), accuracy, and robustness (by reducing consumer panel size) levels and is efficient in providing reliable results. Hence, this method can be applied for the intended purpose.