Persistence of context effects after training and with intensity references
1Nutrition and Food Science Dept., 315 FAFS, American Univ. of Beirut, Riad El Solh 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon. ammar.olabi@aub.edu.lb
Journal of Food Science
|May 8, 2008
Summary
Sensory perception is influenced by context. Even with training, simple contrast effects persist, meaning product intensity judgments can shift based on surrounding items.
Area of Science:
- Sensory Science
- Psychophysics
- Consumer Research
Background:
- Product perception is influenced by surrounding stimuli.
- Simple contrast effects alter perceived intensity based on context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the persistence of simple contrast effects in sweetness intensity judgments.
- To evaluate the efficacy of training and reference standards in mitigating these effects.
Main Methods:
- Four panelist groups were tested under varying conditions: training, reference standards, both, or neither.
- Participants judged sweetness intensity of products presented in series.
Main Results:
- Simple contrast effects were observed across all groups, demonstrating their persistence.
- Neither extensive training nor reference standards eliminated the shifts in perceived intensity.
Conclusions:
- Contextual influences, specifically simple contrast, significantly impact sensory judgments.
- Standard training protocols in descriptive analysis may not fully prevent judgment shifts due to product context.
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