What is the purpose of a 9-point hedonic liking test?

The primary purpose of a 9-point hedonic liking test is to evaluate consumer preference. This test is designed to gauge how much a consumer likes or dislikes a particular product based on their sensory experience. Participants rate their level of liking for the product on a scale from one to nine, where one typically indicates extreme dislike and nine indicates extreme liking. This quantitative measure allows researchers and marketers to gather clear insights into consumer preferences, which can then inform product development and marketing strategies.

The other options do not reflect the main function of this test. Flavor intensity, while it may be assessed in other sensory evaluations, is not the focus of the hedonic scale, which is primarily concerned with the degree of liking rather than how intense a flavor is. Nutritional value assessment is generally based on laboratory analysis rather than subjective consumer ratings. Similarly, evaluating ingredient quality requires different criteria and testing methods, distinguishing it from the liking-focused approach of the hedonic test.