Why a QDA profile?

This descriptive test is recommended when products have to be described on very specific sensory characteristics. This test will then make it possible to obtain intensity measurements of these characteristics or descriptors; these can be visual questions, olfactory notes, flavors, perceptions of texture or touch, but also auditory perceptions, where appropriate.

This descriptive test can be used to answer questions such as:

“What are the characteristics of this product? », « What is its sensory profile? »,

“What should I change in my product? » …

Prerequisites of a QDA profile?

To carry out this type of test, it is necessary to have at least a jury generally composed of 8 to 12 people. These panelists must have been trained and trained in this technique. The products are generally from 2 to 30, sometimes more numerous for low saturating products. These should not evolve very quickly during the 10 or 15 minutes that the evaluation will last.

These products must also be able to be measured quantitatively, and not only qualitatively and olfactorily, as would be, for example, perfumes or products whose characteristics change qualitatively when their intensities vary.

Principe d'un profil QDA?

The samples of the products to be analyzed are presented simultaneously (comparative presentation), or successively (monadic presentation) to the panelists, anonymously, called 'blind', generally in identical containers and using three-digit codes.

Subjects then rate the samples using predefined descriptors; these are questions of intensity varying from a very low or low value (lower limit) to a high or very high value (upper limit) for which the panelists will have been trained. These descriptors are often grouped by perception, such as visual aspects, then olfactory, then taste and texture (after appetizer), and finally questions of aftertaste (after rejection).

Certain families of products, in non-food sectors, may also have descriptors more focused on other senses, such as, for example, the perceptions felt by touch, for creams, fabrics, plastics, etc.

This test is described for its realization by the ISO 13299 standard (Classification V09-007).

Results of a QDA profile

Our application gives you the results in the form of tables (means, ranks, medians…), graphs (histograms, stars, various curves…), but also with tests of hypotheses (Student tests, analysis of variance…) or synthetically with multidimensional analyzes such as Principal Component Analysis, various classifications, etc. All these results are intended to characterize, describe, compare, synthesize these products independently or between them, and by providing a whole set of values to understand the ratings of the panelists and the quality and reliability of the panel.

These very diverse results, with these convergences of views, will make it possible to present the characteristics of the products with a reliable interpretation of these results.

Advantages and limits of a QDA profile?

These tests are widely used and allow precise and reliable descriptions, but it should be remembered that to obtain these results, the panel must be well trained, and the questionnaire must be well adapted to the products.

Indeed, these tests allow the panelists a purely quantitative expression, this description cannot therefore take into account specificities or individual sensitivities; these tests, as indicated in the prerequisites, may not be suitable for open qualitative descriptions or with products that are very scalable in their sensory expression.

Additional analyzes of a QDA profile?

These tests can be coupled with consumer tests in order to identify correlations between the sensory description obtained and consumer preference for product development or changes.

These tests can also be associated with instrumental or formulation data in order to put forward hypotheses as to the origin of perceptions with contents of such and such a type of molecule or product.

It is also the possibility of comparing these results with conformity targets or objectives in order to specify, for these samples, an approval, a conformity or even an adaptation to such or such range or market envisaged.