Monitoring calibration of descriptive sensory panels using distance from target measurements

Abstract

Training targets can be established from product profiles that provide an objective representation of the underlying sensory characteristics of a group of products. If available to a panel leader, these training targets can be used to calibrate a panel and measure the accuracy of their responses. Response accuracy can be determined either by frequency counts—how often the target was hit versus how many opportunities there were to hit it—or by distance from target measurements—which attempt to further quantify the degree to which the target was hit or missed. In addition to the frequency counts, four distance-from-target methods are presented and discussed—Distance from Target, Distance from Range, Adjusted Distance from Target, and Adjusted Distance from Range—each of which provides insights into the degree to which the panel is calibrated.