Flexible Product Evaluation with Free Selection

Flexible Product Evaluation with Free Selection

Introduction

The Free Selection functionality is designed to enhance flexibility in product validation sessions by giving panellists greater control over their evaluation experience. This feature, available within the "Set Validation" options of the Runtime Settings, allows panellists to select which products they want to evaluate, providing an intuitive and streamlined process.


How It Works: A Step-by-Step Guide

Viewing All Products Simultaneously

To implement the Free Selection functionality, simply follow these steps:
Navigate to Design > Runtime Options > Set Validation and select Free Selection. Once the Free Selection setting is activated, panellists will see all available products on the sample validation screen at the start of the evaluation session. The interface displays all products together.


Customized Options

Go to Design > Advanced Settings to customize the Free Selection screen, adjusting elements such as instruction text, product descriptions, images, and selection limits.

1. Customized Instruction Text
Above the samples, the system displays a default message: “Choose the sample you want to evaluate.” This text can be customized in the settings to fit the specific needs of the session. For example, if more detailed instructions are needed for your panellists, you can easily modify this message.

2. Product Descriptions and Images
To enhance the user experience, you can enable options such as Product Description and Product Image. These settings ensure that panellists have a clear understanding of each product before making their selection. The Description and Images will be shown if these information are added in the Product Properties.



3. Limiting Sample Selection
In addition to free choice, there are options to control the number of samples a panellist can evaluate:
  1. Maximum Selection: You can limit the number of products a panellist can assess during the session. Once this limit is reached, the panellist is redirected to the End Screen, concluding the evaluation.
  2. Minimum Selection: You can also set a minimum number of products that must be evaluated. Once the minimum has been reached, the panellist can click the “Evaluation Completed” button, which will take them to the End Screen.

Things to Consider: 

  1. For proper functionality, the free selection requires a Balanced Design within a Monadic Sequential setup.

    • Related Articles

    • Free Sorting

      Introduction Free Sorting is a simple method for collecting similarity data in which each panellist groups together products based on their perceived similarities. All products are presented simultaneously and randomly displayed. Panelists are asked ...
    • 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 ...
    • Free Product Entry

      Introduction This template proves valuable when panellists have the option to select the sample they wish to assess. It enables panellists to input a blinding code of their choosing (not predetermined by a user) and subsequently evaluate the ...
    • Free Sorting

      Purpose To provide analysis of data collected from the Free Sorting (FS) procedure. This procedure presents assessors with a set of samples (products) with the instruction to group the samples into an unspecified number of groups, to satisfy the ...
    • Flash Profiling and Free Choice Profiling

      Purpose Flash Profiling is a rapid type of descriptive method adapted from free choice profiling. Normally used with untrained judges, each individual selects their own attributes to describe at set of products. They then use these attributes to rank ...