DETAILS

Sensory product characterization plays a key role in understanding how products differ, identifying their distinctive sensory attributes, and supporting product development and optimization.

However, obtaining statistical results is only part of the process. Knowing which analyses to perform, how to visualize the results, and, most importantly, how to interpret them correctly is essential for turning sensory data into meaningful insights.

This training provides a practical introduction to the main statistical methods used in sensory product characterization, including ANOVA, multiple comparisons, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Particular attention will be given to graphical representations, the interpretation of sensory profiles and maps, and understanding what the results actually tell us about products and their sensory attributes.

Through practical examples using both XLSTAT and Sensory & Preference Studio (free software), participants will explore how different statistical approaches complement each other, how to select and interpret relevant visualizations, and how to communicate findings clearly while avoiding common interpretation mistakes.

Only one of the two applications is needed to follow the training. Sensory & Preference Studio is available for free, and you can learn more and request access here.

After this training, participants will be able to:

✓ Identify and interpret significant sensory differences between products
✓ Understand ANOVA results and multiple comparisons
✓ Visualize and interpret sensory product profiles
✓ Build and interpret PCA maps, including products, attributes, and their relationships
✓ Interpret PCA maps beyond the visual representation of products and attributes
✓ Choose appropriate visualizations to communicate sensory findings
✓ Translate statistical outputs into clear, meaningful, and actionable conclusions
✓ Recognize common pitfalls and avoid misleading interpretations