Introduction
The Magnitude Estimation template panellists can evaluate attribute intensity with the use of the Labeled Magnitude Scale (LMS). The Labeled Magnitude Scale (LMS) is a psychophysical scaling method developed to quantify the perceived intensity of various sensory attributes such as taste, smell, pain, and emotional experiences. Unlike traditional rating scales, the LMS offers a structured approach by integrating labeled anchors with numerical values to represent perceived intensities.
The LMS typically consists of a continuous line anchored by labeled endpoints representing extreme sensations, such as “barely detectable” at one end and “strongest imaginable sensation of any kind” at the other. Panellists are then instructed to place marks along this line to indicate the perceived intensity of the attribute being evaluated.
One of the key advantages of the LMS is its ability to accommodate individual differences in perception while maintaining consistency in evaluation outcomes. The inclusion of labeled anchors allows panellists to contextualize their experiences within a standardized framework, minimizing ambiguity and subjective biases. Moreover, the continuous nature of the scale enables precise quantification of intensity levels, facilitating robust statistical analyses and data interpretation.
Template Description
The template starts with a welcome screen which can be used for welcoming panellists or asking additional questions prior to the test.
Within the Design Section an instruction screen followed by a LMS scale question type is presented. The anchor for this specific scale are set up in the Standard and Advanced Settings of this question type. When you would like to evaluate more attributes, more questions can be added.
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 see that the template is created with a monadic design. This means the panellists will receive and evaluate each product separately, within each design. The individual design sections do not have a separate design and cannot be adjusted separately. When you would like to make a change in the design, this will be applicable for each design section. Within this template there are four products included. You have the flexibility to adjust this amount in the design generator and edit the product properties by clicking on the Product section.
Raw Data Representation
The raw data will be displayed with each row corresponding to a product evaluated by a judge (panellist), followed by the outcome of the five-point scale for each attribute. Each column with Qx will represent a question.
Analysis
Once data has been gathered, you can access EyeOpenR and navigate to the Sensory or Consumer methods.
Suggested analysis for this specific template are:
- Comparison values
- Table of means
- Bar chart
- Line chart
- Spider plot
- T-test
- ANOVA with multiple comparisons tests
- Correlations
- PCA
- Product Characterization
- MFA
References
- Green, B. G., Dalton, P., Cowart, B., Shaffer, G., Rankin, K., & Higgins, J. (1996). Evaluating the ‘Labeled Magnitude Scale’for measuring sensations of taste and smell. Chemical senses, 21(3), 323-334.
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