| Popis: |
Research subjects who participate frequently in some survey types are known to provide responses that differ from subjects who participate less frequently. The supposed learning or training that occurs from repeated survey involvement is known as panel conditioning. Consumer scoring of overall acceptance of a wide variety of food categories was collected from consumer panels conducted in a central location facility. Data spanning 11 years were analyzed to determine evidence of panel conditioning by measuring the effect of participation frequency on mean consumer scoring among frequent, moderate and infrequent participants. Participation frequency was determined by panelists' number of previous panel visits within specific time intervals. Practical significance and occurrence of panel conditioning, defined as mean scoring differences of ≥0.50 on a discrete 9-point scale hedonic point, were examined. Results indicate that for overall acceptance, in general, mean scoring differences were not practically significant and did not signify occurrence of panel conditioning. Practical Applications Studies relating panel conditioning to online panels/surveys have been conducted; however, little research relates panel conditioning to food sensory evaluation conducted at a central location. If panel conditioning occurs in food sensory evaluation, frequently participating panelists may score differently than infrequently participating panelists and provide unrepresentative data. Thus, food sensory laboratories may need to continually monitor the participation frequency of current panelists. If panel conditioning does not occur, regardless of panelists' participation frequency, and does not result in scoring differences in food sensory evaluation, then this monitoring process would be unnecessary. There would be no concern in reusing qualified panelists and they would not have to be eliminated from panel participation due to recent or frequent previous panel participation. |
