ASTM International

Standard Guide for Two-Sample Acceptance and Preference Testing with Consumers
 N E2943

Annotation

1.1 This guide covers acceptance and preference measures when each is used in an unbranded, two-sample, product test. Each measure, acceptance, and preference, may be used alone or together in a single test or separated by time. This guide covers how to establish a product's hedonic or choice status based on sensory attributes alone, rather than brand, positioning, imagery, packaging, pricing, emotional-cultural responses, or other nonsensory aspects of the product. The most commonly used measures of acceptance and preference will be covered, that is, product liking overall as measured by the nine-point hedonic scale and preference measured by choice, either two-alternative forced choice or two-alternative with a "no preference" option.

Three of the biggest challenges in measuring a product's hedonic (overall liking or acceptability) or choice status (preference selection) are determining how many respondents and who to include in the respondent sample, setting up the questioning sequence, and interpreting the data to make product decisions.

This guide covers:

Definition of each type of measure,

Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each,

When to use each,

Practical considerations in test execution,

Risks associated with each,

Relationship between the two when administered in the same test, and

Recommended interpretations of results for product decisions.