Limiting response alternatives in time-intensity scaling: an examination of the halo-dumping effect.
Time-related measurements pose some challenges to psychophysics and to applied sensory testing methods including control of psychological biases which have been found in single-point scaling. This research examined enhancement of ratings when response alternatives were limited in time-intensity scaling tasks using repeated category ratings. Panelists rated a pseudo-beverage containing sweetener and flavor and one with sweetener only over a 90-s period. The aromatic flavor caused an increase in sweetness intensity and especially so when the panelists were limited to sweetness responses only. The odor-induced enhancement of sweetness was smaller when panelists were given both flavor and sweetness response options than when the panelists were given only a sweetness scale. Prior use of both scales in a previous experimental session did not lessen the halo-dumping enhancement effect. In one study, sweetness ratings of sucrose alone were depressed when the additional scale for flavoring was provided, perhaps due to inappropriate partitioning of responses.
Clark
C C
CC
Department of Food Science, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, USA.
Lawless
H T
HT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001218:Aspartame / Q000494:pharmacology; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000494:pharmacology; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011601:Psychophysics; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D001547:Benzaldehydes; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D013395:Sucrose; C100058:vanillin; D001218:Aspartame