ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the common practical aspects associated with performing any kind of sensory evaluation irrespective of the particular test methodology or application. It discusses a practical and accessible manner, so that all practitioners can understand the basic concepts. The chapter explores to ensure that best practices are applied to all steps of performing a sensory evaluation experiment. In order to ensure that sensory evaluation of sound is performed in a rigorous and robust manner that will lead to repeatable scientific or engineering results, it is important to design and plan experiments thoroughly. The process of data collection using sensory evaluation is relatively slow and arduous, compared to physical forms of measurement. Perceptual/descriptive evaluation, often called descriptive analysis can be considered as an objective quantification of the sensory strength of auditory attributes of the perceived stimulus. The chapter discusses the nature, selection, development and usage of attributes for sensory evaluation.
