Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sensory-science-conducting-tests
Are you curious about how products are rigorously tested to ensure optimal consumer experience? Do you want to understand the science behind taste, smell, and texture? Then Coursera’s ‘Sensory Science: Conducting Tests’ is the course for you!
This course, the final installment in the Foundations of Sensory Science series, is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to delve into the practical application of sensory evaluation. It offers a comprehensive introduction to the sensory evaluation laboratory and equips learners with best practices for conducting tests and meticulous documentation. A key takeaway is the emphasis on how various factors, particularly the testing environment, can significantly influence the outcome of sensory experiments. This attention to detail is crucial for generating valid and reliable data.
The course expertly guides you through two specific, yet fundamental, sensory tests: the duo-trio discrimination test and the 3-product consumer test. Through engaging case studies, you’ll see firsthand how these methods can be applied to solve real-world product challenges. For each test type, the course provides a deep dive into developing appropriate hypotheses, selecting products, preparing for testing, executing the tests, decoding the data, and interpreting the results.
One of the most compelling aspects of this course is its hands-on approach. The syllabus outlines modules dedicated to ‘Labs and Procedures,’ where you’ll learn to minimize errors in testing, understand principles for recruiting qualified assessors, and grasp the importance of clear assessor instructions and documentation. The ‘Discrimination Testing’ module breaks down how to use these tests to solve product issues and introduces best practices for qualification criteria. Following this, the ‘Consumer Testing’ module explores consumer product testing methods, target group identification, and balanced serving orders.
The culmination of this learning journey is the ‘Final Project.’ Here, you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to design and conduct your own sensory test – either a duo-trio discrimination or a 3-product consumer test. This project allows you to solidify your understanding by creating testing materials, conducting the experiment, and reporting your findings. While these are paper/pencil activities, they effectively simulate the real-world process and aid in comprehension.
In conclusion, ‘Sensory Science: Conducting Tests’ is a highly recommended course for students, researchers, product developers, or anyone with a keen interest in understanding how sensory data is collected and analyzed. It provides a solid foundation for designing and executing effective sensory evaluation studies, ensuring your product development is guided by robust scientific principles. Enroll today and start uncovering the science behind what we taste and experience!
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sensory-science-conducting-tests