ASTM E3000-18

1.1This guide provides guidelines for measuring and tracking the performance of individual assessors on a descriptive sensory panel.

1.2This guide provides guidelines to assist sensory professionals in measuring performance for given assessors. Measuring performance will form the basis for (1) determining the reliability of the results, and (2) establishing remedial actions for an individual assessor.

1.3This guide examines various aspects of trained assessor performance; such as repeatability, discrimination, and agreement and demonstrates some ways to measure them. The procedures will help the sensory professional determine areas of good performance as well as those that require improvement.

1.4Individual assessor performance is tracked using established statistical procedures. These procedures depend on whether replicates are collected and if they are collected over multiple sessions or within a single session.

1.5This guide provides suggested procedures, including statistical procedures that can be done using standard statistical software, for evaluating performance and is not meant to exclude other methods that may be effectively used for a similar purpose.

1.6Methods for training and screening assessors are not within the scope of this guide. This guide does not address how to communicate performance feedback information to individual assessors. This monitoring of panel reproducibility, a measure of the panel’s ability to reproduce the results of other panels, is also not within the scope of this guide.

1.7This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.8This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.