Standard Test: Time Intensity

Standard Test: Time Intensity

Overview 

The Time Intensity (TI) test is a technique that measures the rate, duration, and intensity of sensory attributes as a function of time. This technique is especially useful for measuring sensory qualities that display dynamic changes in intensity over short time periods.

The question can include up to two attributes, one with a horizontal scale, the other with a vertical scale. If only one attribute is included, the scale orientation can be horizontal or vertical.

Notes
It is recommended to train your panelists on using this method before collecting real data.


Single-Attribute Time Intensity Test Setup

InfoBy default the Time intensity question is a single-attribute question.

If you wish to evaluate dual (2) attributes, follow the steps in the next section.

  1. Create a Standard test and go through the Overview and Samples & design tabs to set those components up as necessary. 

  2. In the Build tab, in the Questions bar on the left, expand the Temporal list, and click Time intensity to add this question into your test. By default this will be a horizontal scale.


    Idea If you wish to ask your panelists any follow up questions, e.g. a Comment, you can add them from the same left bar. If you wish to provide a short break between samples, add a Text/time delay ,  or add a Pause for extended breaks. Partial Present feature is recommended for extended breaks between subgroups of samples for evaluations in the lab.

  3. Update the following in the Build tab as necessary: 
    1. Text visible to panelists .
      1. You can update any of the preset text, such as Welcome screen  and Thank you screen.

      2. Add your text/instructions in the TI question or any other follow up questions and screens that you may have added. 

      3. Question and attribute names are important to be descriptive for your reporting purposes, which can also be displayed to panelists through the Question options and Attribute options, if desired.

    2. Question options . Expand the page, click in the question's white space and click Question options .


      In addition to the options common to most question types (such as question name, question presentation method, whether or not you wish to display the blinding codes through the options or use a wildcard, etc), below are the options specific to the Time intensity question type to help you ensure proper display of the TI question: 
      • Display time.
        Toggle the option to Hide if you don't wish to display the time counter to panelists, or toggle to Show if you wish to display the time counter to the panelists. By default the option is toggled to Show.


      • Sampling interval (seconds). 
        This option sets the length of time in seconds between data collection points. The default is 1 second, and you can enter a value from 1 to 10 seconds.

      • Sampling duration (seconds).
        This option sets the total length of time in seconds for data collection. The default is 120 seconds, and you can enter a value from 1 to 9999 seconds.

      • Messages. 
        Display to your panelists brief messages at specific time points throughout their evaluation. In browsers that have the sound enabled, the message will also play a sound to assist with attracting panelists' attention.

        Click
        Add message , specify the start and end time for the message, and enter the message text for each message.


        Based on the example provided in the above image, between the fifth and the tenth second of their evaluation, panelists will see the message like this:


    3. Attribute options. Expand the page, click in the attribute's white space and click Attribute options .


      Review all the available options and update as necessary. You can add reference marks if required. Save the changes.

  4. Update the Panelists and Logistics tabs as necessary, preview and run the test .


Dual-Attribute Time Intensity Test Setup


  1. Create a Standard test and go through the Overview and Samples & design tabs to set those components up as necessary. 

  2. In the Build tab, in the Questions bar on the left, expand the Temporal list, and click Time intensity to add this question into your test. By default this will be a horizontal scale. 


    IdeaIf you wish to ask your panelists any follow up questions, e.g. a Comment, you can add them from the same left bar. If you wish to provide a short break between samples, add a Text/time delay ,  or add a Pause for extended breaks. Partial Present feature is recommended for extended breaks between subgroups of samples for evaluations in the lab.

  3. Update the following in the Build tab as necessary: 
    1. Text visible to panelists .
      1. You can update any of the preset text, such as Welcome screen  and Thank you screen.

      2. Add your text/instructions in the TI question or any other follow up questions and screens that you may have added. 

      3. Question and attribute names are important to be descriptive for your reporting purposes, which can also be displayed to panelists through the Question options and Attribute options, if desired. Since you are planning on running a dual-attribute Time Intensity test, name the first attribute according to what you are planning to display to panelists as a horizontal attribute. For example, "Sweetness".

    2. Question options . Expand the page, click in the question's white space and click Question options .


      In addition to the options common to most question types (such as question name, question presentation method, whether or not you wish to display the blinding codes through the options or use a wildcard, etc), below are the options specific to the Time intensity question type to help you ensure proper display of the TI question: 
      • Display time.
        Toggle the option to Hide if you don't wish to display the time counter to panelists, or toggle to Show if you wish to display the time counter to the panelists. By default the option is toggled to Show.


      • Sampling interval (seconds). 
        This option sets the length of time in seconds between data collection points. The default is 1 second, and you can enter a value from 1 to 10 seconds.

      • Sampling duration (seconds).
        This option sets the total length of time in seconds for data collection. The default is 120 seconds, and you can enter a value from 1 to 10 seconds.

      • Messages. 
        Display to your panelists brief messages at specific time points throughout their evaluation. In browsers that have the sound enabled, the message will also play a sound to assist with attracting panelists' attention.

        Click Add message , specify the start and end time for the message, and enter the message text for each message.


        Based on the example provided in the above image, between the 20th and the 25th second of their evaluation, panelists will see the message like this:


    3. Attribute options. Expand the page, click in the attribute's white space and click Attribute options .


      Review all the available options and update as necessary. You will probably want to show the attribute name to the panelists. Save the changes.

    4. The second attribute. When happy with your first attribute, you may clone it to create the second (vertical) attribute. Expand the page, click in the attribute's white space and click Clone attribute.


      Update the attribute name and go to the Attribute options to update any details you may want to for this attribute. If it happened that you accidentally reversed the attributes (meaning, made an attribute vertical that you wanted to be horizontal and vice versa), you can adjust this in the Attribute options > Scale orientation.

  4. Update the Panelists and Logistics tabs as necessary, preview and run the test .




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