Research Methodology & Design Flashcards

A sensory scientist wants each of 6 samples to appear equally often in every serving position and to precede every other sample equally often. Which design achieves this?

Answer: Williams Latin square design

Williams designs balance both position and first-order carryover effects across panelists.

When too many samples exist for each panelist to evaluate all of them in one session, which design is most appropriate?

Answer: Balanced incomplete block design

A BIB design gives each panelist a subset of samples while every pair of samples appears together equally often.

Why are samples typically labeled with random three-digit codes?

Answer: To minimize expectation and code bias

Random three-digit codes carry no implied meaning, reducing bias from labels like 'A' or '1'.

In a descriptive panel ANOVA, panelists are usually treated as which type of effect?

Answer: Random effect

Panelists are considered a random sample from a population of possible assessors, so they are a random effect.

A researcher concludes two products differ when in fact they do not. What error occurred?

Answer: Type I error

Rejecting a true null hypothesis is a Type I (alpha) error.

Which factor would most directly increase the statistical power of a discrimination test?

Answer: Increasing the number of assessors

Larger sample sizes reduce the chance of a Type II error, increasing power.

Before running a full consumer study, a small trial is run to check questionnaire wording and timing. This is called a:

Answer: Pilot test

Pilot testing identifies procedural problems before committing full resources.