Guidelines for the selection and training of
assessors for descriptive sensory analysis

Develop and adopt effective systems for selection, training and monitoring of sensory panels to help achieve optimal panel performance and reliable sensory analyses

Sensory analysis can give in-depth and precise information about the sensory attributes of specific food or non-food products. However, because a sensory panel is made up of individual human assessors who exhibit differences in physical ability and overall performance, care has to be taken in selecting panel members, ensuring that they are trained appropriately, and monitoring the performance of the panel as a whole. This guideline document was written with a group of expert sensory scientists to help with the practicalities of these tasks.

It establishes an easy-to-follow and easy-to-adapt step-by-step approach to panel recruitment, training and monitoring, working through each in turn. On recruitment it covers planning, advertising, application procedures, interviews, screening tests, and recruitment criteria. On training, it discusses the importance and likely content of training, both of individuals and the panel as a whole. It describes how monitoring can be applied at the training stage and beyond - including the use of graphical and statistical tools - and addresses the importance of developing and maintaining assessor motivation. Throughout, the emphasis is on the practicalities involved in getting the best from a sensory panel. The guide will be of use to both the novice and experienced analyst.

Contents

Introduction

• Panel selection
• Panel training
• Some Novel Ideas

Getting the right sensory panel

• Do you really need a sensory panel?
• Justifying a sensory panel
• 'External' versus 'internal' assessors
• Selecting your panel leader
• Company commitment

Panel recruitment and screening

• Preparation for recruitment - job description, contractual implications, salary, probation, training and review
• The recruitment process - job advertisements, applications, interviews, screening tests, recruitment criteria

Panel selection

• Preparing a training programme
• Fundamental training areas
• Criteria for selection

Panel training

• Getting going - aims
• Developing ability
• Learning to quantify sensory perceptions

Panel performance monitoring

• Monitoring through the training process
• Visual and graphical tools
• Statistical tools

Assessor motivation

References

Appendix - Survey of panel use in industry

A4 softcover / 65 pages