Introduction to Sensory Evaluation

This module is designed to give you a brief introduction to the field of sensory evaluation. You will learn what sensory evaluation is, review how sensory evaluation pertains to product and consumer understanding, and explore the evolution of sensory evaluation over time. By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Define sensory evaluation and the sensory process,
• Differentiate between objective and subjective responses,
• Identify the appropriate test type – objective or subjective – for your test objective,
• Recognize how the screen of expectation affects a customer’s initial perception of a product and how a trained panelist’s screen is removed, and
• Explore current and future applications of sensory evaluation.