Design questions in sensory and consumer science

In any sensory measurement, the analyst's main concern is to acquire the correct and best quality data as economically as possible. The correct data depend on the purpose of the measurement, the type and number of samples, and practical constraints, such as the time available for designing, executing and reporting the study. Choice of sensory method and testing environment should be considered here. Good quality data means data that are a good reflection of some true value and have little associated uncertainty; that is accuracy and precision. Many of the practical questions that arise when designing sensory measurements affect these aspects, such as the number and type of assessors, frequency or amount of testing, sample presentation and sample order. Economical experimentation means choosing the most efficient design, and will often conflict with getting the best quality data.