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
.
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Shuffle sample sets.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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:
-
Select a design of your choice that exists in the
Design
library.
-
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.
-
Set the reps up
.
-
Create a design
directly in this screen using the software functionality.
-
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.
Add Samples from Sample List
Streamline your sample addition by using our Sample list feature.
Link Samples to Products
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.
- 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.
- 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:
- In the Samples & design, select Blinding codes > Change blinding code type.
- Select Manual or Constant. See the bullet points above for details to help you select the option that will best suit your testing needs.
- 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.
Related Articles
Samples & Design: Edit Samples
Overview This workflow will help you navigate through the sample editing process. If you are planning on importing samples, before you follow the steps to edit them, export the existing list of samples by selecting Samples > Export (.csv). or Select ...Samples & Design: Dynamic Design
Overview While the pre-set designs are ideal in most testing scenarios, sometimes you might encounter a situation where you do not have a set number of samples for every panelist. Here are a couple of example scenarios: Scenario 1: You might have a ...Samples & Design: Create a Design
Overview Compusense has a wide variety of pre-set experimental plans (designs) that can be added to a test to present samples in a specific order. These same designs can be used for presenting sections in a specific order. However, sometimes a need ...Samples & Design: Activate/Deactivate Samples
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