Samples & Design

Samples & Design

Overview

Samples and design are core components of all test types in Compusense.  

Throughout a test, each panelist will evaluate a Sample set .  In a product test, the number of Sample sets is equal to the maximum number of evaluations and orders in a test. Sample sets  combine the number of  Samples  and an order from the  Design  to determine what each panelist is evaluating.    

Samples are what is being evaluated in your product test. Typically a blinding code is used to ensure that there is no bias from panelists.

A design determines how the samples are presented to panelists. The type of design available to your test will be determined by the test type and the number of samples in your test. 

Though Survey test types include Sample sets , they do not include samples or a design .

In this workflow we are outlining the steps for the new Samples & design view. We recommend using the new view whenever possible because in the near future it will replace the "classic" view entirely.

New Samples & Design

Before you begin, toggle the Try the new Samples & Design option to Yes .


Add Sample Sets

In the  Samples sets field, type the number of sample sets required for your test. 

Survey test types are pre-set with 10,000 sample sets, and this cannot be modified.

Add Generic Samples

In the  Samples field, type the number of samples required for your test.  You will be able to update sample details, even link samples to products if required, and more, by following the corresponding steps further down in this workflow.

Samples cannot be added in Survey test types.  

Edit Samples

If you are planning on importing samples, before you follow the steps to edit them, export the existing list of samples by selecting Options > Export (.csv). or selecting Options > Export (.dat). The .csv format is useful when sample information does not contain 'special' characters. The .dat format is useful when sample information contains 'special' characters.

Default Designs

Every test type , other than the Survey test type , gets a default design assigned to it. The type of design available will be determined based on the Test type chosen and the number of samples in your test. 
Designs are not available in the Survey test types . 

You do not have to use the designs assigned by default. In this workflow we will teach you how to select and even create a design that meets your testing needs.

Click View design to see what the default design (or any selected design) looks like. You can always click Export design to obtain a spreadsheet file of the design, or print Serve Report for full overview of the entire sample distribution in you test.


For a quick summary about your design, hover over the info icon, as seen in the image below.


Edit Design - Default Options

Click Edit design to reveal the options.

  1. Advanced. By default, this option is toggled to No . Very simple changes can be made with this selection. The advanced options are described in detail further down in this workflow.

  2. Design. The default selection is Balanced design where each sample is seen equal number of times in each position and in pairs. Alternatively, you can select Fixed design where samples are seen in the same order by every panelist. The base design table on this screen will reflect the design selection.

  3. Shuffle sample sets.
    1. No. This is the default selection, which means that the sample sets will be presented according to the base design.

      Base design is the originally imported/created design that may have needed multiplying to create the required number of sample sets in your test. For example, William's design, one Latin Square, for 4 samples has 4 sample sets in its base design. If your test has 40 sample sets, by default, the selected base design is multiplied by the software 10 times in this case to create the 40 sample sets.

    2. Shuffle within base design. Select this option when you do not expect all sample sets to be evaluated. This shuffle option will ensure that the sample sets are seen as equal number of times as possible.

    3. Shuffle across entire design. Select this option when you are certain that all sample sets will be evaluated in your test to guarantee that the sample sets are seen equal number of times.

  4. The design table. The table shows the base design selected in the Design dropdown list, regardless of what selections are made in the other options. To view full design for your test, save the changes and click View design , or click Export design , or print serve report .

Edit Design - Advanced Options

In the Samples & design, click Edit design and toggle Advanced to Yes to reveal the options. In addition to the functionality described above under the default options, here you can also:
  1. Select a design of your choice that exists in the Design library.

  2. Import a design from a file directly into your test, if the required design does not exist in the Design library for the number of samples in your test.

  3. Set the reps up .

  4. Create a design directly in this screen using the software functionality.

  5. Use Dynamic design in your test. This option is useful when the number of samples served is not static, or not known ahead of time.


Activate and Deactivate Samples

Samples in a test can be deactivated if necessary, and data collected without having to recreate the test, especially if you found out about the late sample at the last minute.

Hide and Show Custom Sample Columns

Enhance your data collection and panelist experience by using custom sample columns/fields.

Edit Blinding Codes

You do not have to use the blinding codes that the software assigns to samples by default. Set them to be what you need them to be.

Change Blinding Code Type

Not only can you update the blinding codes, but you can also change the type between Constant and Manual.
  1. Constant blinding codes are useful in most sensory testing scenarios where booth dividers exist. For example, sample A will have the blinding code 111 regardless of which panelist is evaluating it. Sample B will have the blinding code 222 regardless of which panelist is evaluating it, etc. The blinding code for samples are therefore constant.

  2. Manual blinding codes are useful in scenarios where booth dividers do not exist, such as in conference room testing situations. For example: sample A will have the blinding code 111 for panelist X. When panelist Y receives the sample A, the blinding code they will see for this sample will be 231, etc. Sample B will have the blinding code 222 for panelist X. When panelist Y receives the sample B, the blinding code they will see for this sample will be 535, etc.. The blinding code for samples are therefore not constant.

Please follow these steps to update the blinding code type:
  1. In the Samples & design, select Blinding codes > Change blinding code type.

  2. Select Manual or Constant. See the bullet points above for details to help you select the option that will best suit your testing needs.

  3. Click Save. If you set the blinding codes to Constant, you will see the blinding codes that the software assigned in the samples table. If you set the blinding codes to Manual, you will see the word Manual in the samples table.

Whether the blinding codes are set to Constant or Manual, you can edit them to suit your testing needs.

Classic Samples & Design



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