ASTM E3041-17
(Guide)Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Scales for Sensory Evaluation
Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Scales for Sensory Evaluation
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Rating instruments or rating scales are commonly used in many areas such as sensory evaluation, marketing research, experimental psychology, survey research, and economics in which there is interest in quantifying perceptions such as liking, preference, level of purchase interest, intensity of an attribute, degree of difference, or level of agreement with statements. This guide is concerned with the scales that are used to record human responses to physical stimuli rather than measuring physical entities. Many types of rating scales already exist and have been used in the above fields. Specific rating scales each have their own properties, advantages, and disadvantages. Some rating scales are intended for specific applications, while others have broader applications. Some rating scales have been extensively studied and modeled and have well-established properties.
4.2 Given the overwhelming number of scales available to practitioners when designing research, it is necessary for the researcher to have some knowledge about the scales that are available along with the many considerations that surround their use and applications. This guide will be useful to the sensory researcher who wants to use a scale as a measuring tool for their work. Selecting the right scale is a critical step towards meeting the research objective and making valid conclusions.
SCOPE
1.1 The objective of this guide is to provide information to be reviewed and considered by the sensory and consumer scientist who wants to select and use scales to measure responses from consumers or trained assessors. For ease of reading, the term sensory scientist is used throughout the guide when statements apply to the sensory and consumer scientists.
1.2 This guide covers a brief definition of scales as well as some fundamental and practical challenges the sensory and consumer scientists should be aware of when using scales. It also provides a list and a description of the most commonly used scales in the field of sensory evaluation and consumer product research along with a classification framework for these scales.
1.3 The scope of this guide is limited to the sensory and consumer science professional’s selection and use of rating scales when an assessor assigns one symbol/value to one stimulus, to their perception of a stimulus or an internal attitude/opinion. It does not cover:
1.3.1 Details of analysis of data obtained from rating scales,
1.3.2 Guidelines for questionnaire design including attribute selection,
1.3.3 Fundamentals of measurement such as reliability and validity,
1.3.4 Measurement models used to convert scale responses into measures of unobserved sensory or hedonic quantities,
1.3.5 Tasks in which the assessor assigns a symbol/value to a group of stimuli,
1.3.6 Rankings, and
1.3.7 Multi-item scales.
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3041 − 17
Standard Guide for
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Selecting and Using Scales for Sensory Evaluation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3041; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 The objective of this guide is to provide information to
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
be reviewed and considered by the sensory and consumer
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
scientist who wants to select and use scales to measure
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
responses from consumers or trained assessors. For ease of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
reading, the term sensory scientist is used throughout the guide
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
when statements apply to the sensory and consumer scientists.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 This guide covers a brief definition of scales as well as
some fundamental and practical challenges the sensory and
2. Referenced Documents
consumer scientists should be aware of when using scales. It
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
also provides a list and a description of the most commonly
E253 Terminology Relating to Sensory Evaluation of Mate-
used scales in the field of sensory evaluation and consumer
rials and Products
product research along with a classification framework for
E2299 Guide for Sensory Evaluation of Products by Chil-
these scales.
dren and Minors
1.3 The scope of this guide is limited to the sensory and
consumer science professional’s selection and use of rating 3. Terminology
scales when an assessor assigns one symbol/value to one
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E253 for definitions re-
stimulus, to their perception of a stimulus or an internal
lating to sensory evaluation of materials and products.
attitude/opinion. It does not cover:
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.3.1 Details of analysis of data obtained from rating scales,
3.2.1 interval data—data obtained from a scale for which
1.3.2 Guidelinesforquestionnairedesignincludingattribute
numerically identical differences on any part of the scale
selection,
correspond to the same magnitude of difference.
1.3.3 Fundamentals of measurement such as reliability and
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The occurrence of a zero point in
validity,
interval data does not correspond to the complete absence of
1.3.4 Measurement models used to convert scale responses
the characteristic measured. An example of interval data is a
into measures of unobserved sensory or hedonic quantities,
temperatureindegreesFahrenheitwhereeachdegreechangeis
1.3.5 Tasks in which the assessor assigns a symbol/value to
thesamechangeinthermalheatregardlessofpointonthescale
a group of stimuli,
and 0°F does not represent the complete absence of thermal
1.3.6 Rankings, and
energy.
1.3.7 Multi-item scales.
3.2.2 ordered category scale, n—rating instrument in which
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
the categories used to encode the responses are ordered by
as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in
magnitude.
this standard.
3.2.3 ordinal data, n—data obtained when items are ordered
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
with respect to magnitude, but the magnitudes of difference
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
among successively ordered items are not necessarily equal.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Examples include ranking, just-about-
right scales, and the Likert scale.
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This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory
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Evaluation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E18.04 on Fundamen- For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
tals of Sensory. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2017. Published January 2018. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E3041-17. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E3041 − 17
3.2.4 rating instrument, n—co
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