Factors

Influencing
Sensory Verdicts

Physiological Psychological
Factors Factors
Physiological Factors
Adaptation
“Adaptation is a decrease or change in sensitivity to a given
stimulus as a result of continuous exposure to that stimulus”.
Enhancement or Suppression:
 Enhancement: The effect of the presence of one substance increasing the
perceived intensity of a second substance.

 Synergy: The effect of the presence of one substance increasing the

perceived combined intensity of two substances.

 Suppression: The effect of the presence of one substance decreasing the

perceived intensity of a mixture of two or more substances.
Examples For enhancement & Suppression
Psychological Factors
Expectation Error

It is an error which is
produced by accidently
giving knowledge about the
sample yet to be tested.
 Error of Habituation

This error results from a tendency to continue to give the same

response when a series of slowly increasing OR decreasing stimuli
are presented but the panelist misses the developing trend or even
a defective sample.
 Stimulus Error

An Error caused when IRRELEVANT CRITERIA, such as the style OR color

of the container, influence the observer and if the criteria suggests
differences, the panelist will find them even when they do not exist.
 Logical Error

Logical errors occur when two or more characteristics of the samples are
associated in the minds of the assessors.
Such errors can be minimized by using colored glasses, colored lights,
etc.
 Halo Effect

It is defined as when more than one attribute of a sample

is evaluated and the ratings will tend to influence each
other.
 Order of Presentation of Samples
Contrast Effect: The act of introducing a good quality sample before the poor one.

Group Effect: Introducing a good sample in a group of poor samples.

Error of Central Tendency: To give preference to a sample placed at the center

over those placed at the ends.

Pattern Effect: It generates when products are presented in a specific figure.

Time Error/Positional bias: It’s a fatigue and indifference with last and often
preference goes to the first one.
 Mutual Suggestion

It occurs when a certain response of a panelist is influenced

by other panelists and this becomes the reason of an
inaccurate evaluation of samples.
 Lack of Motivation

It occurs when the panel leader does not create the

necessary atmosphere in which assessors feel comfortable
and do a good job.
 Capriciousness Vs Timidity

Some people tends to use extremes of any scale, thereby

exerting more than their share of influence over the panel’s
results.
Poor Physical Condition
It elaborates when the panelist’s health
or mental condition does not allow him
to be a part of the sensory panel as
his/her senses do not function the way
they should.