In a Blind Product test we are testing a product offered by different companies under different brand names and trying to find out which one is superior. Brands can play an intriguing role on the human psyche - a detergent powder under an established brand like Ariel might seem exceedingly superior to a consumer when compared to the same detergent powder packed under the name of some unfamiliar XYZ brand. Blind Product test tries to eliminate the overpowering effect of brands on consumer judgment. It is a test to find out which product is superior when tested in blind form (i.e. with the brand names removed).
Blind product testing is a superior tool for benchmarking with competition and ensuring that while the brand is doing its job of creating an imagery in the consumers mind - the underlying product delivers the brand promise....Often good brands alone are not enough to delight todays evolved consumer needs. If the product does not deliver the promise of the brand the consumer may never try the brand again....The customer is lost. In today's competitive scenario where generating consumer trials and customer retention is very expensive - companies should continuously aim at benchmarking through simple research tools like Blind Product testing!
While Blind Product Testing aims at identifying the superior sample from amongst competitive samples in blind form - Triad Test works a little differently. Every company works for profits!!! Reduction in the cost of the product without effecting the quality of the same is a challenge that all brand custodians face on a continuous basis... Triad Test is a simple test that is conducted between 2 product samples say A and B.... The 2 products are absolutely the same except that B has some tweakings in the formulations which makes it a little cost effective. Now it is important that the consumer cannot spot the difference in the quality of the product due to the cost saving initiatives... Triad Test is used here to see whether the consumer can actually spot the difference between the current product A and the cost reduced product B. In other words it is used to answer the question - Does a sensory difference exist between samples?
ATriad test is a type of Difference test to determine if there is a sensory difference between two products. For example, a researcher may want to see if changing one ingredient in a recipe to make a certain food product will affect the taste of the final product.
Mechanics of Conducting a Triad Test
Three coded samples are presented to each panelist, and each panelist is asked to pick out which sample they feel is different from the other two. There are also sensory tests which panelists have to be trained to detect taste thresholds (such as determining the concentration of a flavor which can be identified by the panelist when introduced into a food product) or to have trained panelists describe certain characteristics that researchers are interested in studying. Sensory tests have to be conducted under controlled conditions to reduce bias (prejudice or influence) on how panelists view the product(s). The sensory room has to be free from distractions (sound, odors) to not influence peoples’ decisions of the product. Sensory testing laboratories are able to adjust the lighting, air regulation, and individual booths according to the needs of each sensory test that is conducted. Samples also have to be presented in a random order and assigned product codes, such as threedigit sample numbers, to keep food products anonymous to further reduce influencing the panelists’ decision. The sensory test measures if any differences detected are truly significant by analyzing the sensory data for statistical significance. After statistical
analysis, the researchers can make a meaningful interpretation from the results of the sensory data.
Activity Example for a brand of Fruit Drink (Current brand of Maa mango juice and one with reduced sugar content)
Start of the test by mentioning to the panelists they will be participating in a Triangle sensory test. Panelists can voluntarily participate, but should not be forced to participate because all sensory tests that include human subjects must be conducted on a voluntary basis. Explain to panelists if they participate, sensory panelists have to remain silent during the taste test and cannot share answers with their neighbors. Explain that there will be a discussion after the test
to share answers later. Mention to panelists that they will be given three Tetrapaks of Mango Juice, and that they should taste the juices from left to right. They should take a sip of water between each sample. The object of the test is to mark which of the juices is different from the other two. Only one pack of juice of the three should be marked as being different to them. If
panelists have difficulty deciding, mention to them that it is acceptable if they want to go back and forth and re-taste samples to determine the different juice sample. They may have to re-taste samples, so explain they may not want to drink juice little at a time. If they cannot tell which juice pack is different, tell them to guess. Use the provided sensory ballot as a guide if
needed. Half the panelists receive two low-sugar packs of Maa juice, with the regular Maa juice as the different sample, and the other half of the panelists receive two regular Maa Mango juice packs and one with low--sugar pack. Pass out sensory ballots, labeled packs of Maa Mango Juice and water. Allow the panelists to begin the sensory test. Enforce the quiet rule during the sensory test. After the panelists have finished the test, collect sensory ballots. After the ballots are collected, explain the hypothesis of the sensory test.
The stated scientific question is: Can the panelists detect the difference between low and regular sugar packs of Maa juice. Hypothesis testing and introducing the scientific method could be used in this lesson. For example,
H1: Panelists cannot tell a difference between low-sugar and original Maa Mango
H2:Panelists can tell a difference between low-sugar and original Maa Mango
Tally sensory ballots to determine the number of correct and non-correct responses. There is a
statistical table (T8, pg. 369 of Meilgaard et al.,1999) that can be used to determine if the total
number of correct responses for the total number of students that participated were statistically significant with a set at 0.05 and n=to the total number of participating students. There is a 1 out of 3 chance that the correct (different) cookie will be picked just by chance (guessing). After determining final results, interpret the findings back to the students. The class was able (or not able) to detect a statistically significant difference between low-sugar and original Maa mango.
Statistically significant means that the results fall below a set “confidence” level, which is usually at 95%. The researcher can be 95% confident that there truly was (or was not) a detectable
difference among the students in the class.
Sensory tests can provide companies with valuable information such as the acceptability of a new juice. If the sensory test results are promising, the company may find it worthwhile to produce the low sugar juice. If a company produced juices and then sold them without conducting sensory tests, they could potentially be taking a large risk and lose a lot of money producing a food product that will not sell.
Coding the Samples
Following can be the code sheet for the researchers reference. You have 2 samples A and B which are given to respondents as XYZ, DEF and so on. While marking on the packs ensure that X is marked on A, Y is marked on A and Z is marked on B sample.
Also we need to ensure that all the 6 variations of giving samples are given to equal number of respondents... Minimum 30 respondents should be given samples.
| AAB | XYZ | B Is different |
| ABA | DEF | B Is different |
| BAA | GHI | B Is different |
| BBA | JKL | A Is different |
| BAB | MNO | A Is different |
| ABB | PQR | A Is different |
Questionnaire Format -
There will be 6 sets of questionnaire - sample of 1 set is as below:
Internal Research study for Fruit Juice
SET 1
Please take a drink of water before testing Fruit Juice Sample. Drink Fruit Juice samples from left to right, and please take a sip of water between samples.
Place an “X” under the sample which is different than the others.
_____ _____ _____
Comments if any:
Triangle test if conducted in the manner suggested can be very useful in taking critical decisions and avoiding big losses by basing decisions on mere judgments!
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