Free Choice Profiling

Free Choice Profiling

Introduction

Free-choice profiling (FCP) is a quick and inexpensive method in which consumers are asked to both identify attributes in the sample and rate the liking and/or intensity of those attributes. They should be provided with adequate instruction on how to perform this test and possibly given product categories to consider (aroma, appearance, flavor, texture, etc.). Each consumer will have different attributes, indicating which are most important.

Template Description

The template starts with a screen giving instructions to panellists. The second screen in the start section will allow your panellist to create their own list of attributes with a specific question type called the Dynamic List. In the Standard settings of the specific question type, you can set the minimum and maximum selected attributes the panelist can enter. 

In the design section, the first screen has instructions, followed by questions where panellists can rate the intensity of the products with their own chosen attributes. The Standard Line scale question type has been used for this template. The amount of questions in the design section are based upon the amount the panellist gave or the user has set up in the "Attribute Generation" screen. By default this template has set the maximum to 10 attributes. If the user would like to increase or decrease the maximum, the amount of questions in the design section of the project needs to be adjusted as well. If you would like to have additional information on how to include more attributes to this template, please click the following link: https://support.eyequestion.nl/portal/en/kb/articles/how-to-include-more-attributes-in-the-free-choice-profiling-flash-profile-template 

In the end screen, the template incorporates a "thank you" message, providing an opportunity for you to personalize a final message for the panellists.
 
Within the design settings, you can examine how each panellist will receive the sample, with each set corresponding to a specific order of presentation for an individual panellist. You have the flexibility to edit the product properties by clicking on the Product section. Please remember not to include replicas in the design, as they can interfere with the data analysis.

Raw Data Representation

The raw data will be displayed with each row corresponding to an attribute created by the judge (panellist), followed by the output of each rating of each sample for that specific attribute. You may view the attributes that the panellists generated in the free attributes question. Each attribute will have a column with the score that the panellist gave to that product. 

Analysis

Once the data has been gathered, you can  access EyeOpenR and navigate to the Flash Profiling/Free Profiling method. Additional details about this analysis can be found in the following article: https://support.eyequestion.nl/portal/en/kb/articles/flash-profiling-free-choice-profiling 

References

  1. Deliza, R, MacFie, H and Hedderley, D. 2005. The consumer sensory perception of passion-fruit juice using free-choice profiling. Journal of Sensory Studies, 20, 17-27.
  2. González-Viñas, MA, Garrido, N and Wittig de Penna, E. 2001. Free choice profiling of Chilean goat cheese. Journal of Sensory Studies, 16, 239-248.
  3. Meullenet, JF, Xiong, R, and Findlay, C. 2007. Multivariate and Probabilistic Analyses of Sensory Science Problems. Iowa: Blackwell Publishing Professional.

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