The 9-Point Hedonic Scale

The 9-point hedonic scale is a widely used tool in sensory science for evaluating consumer preferences and acceptability of various products, particularly in the food and beverage industry. Here are the reasons why the 9-point hedonic scale is used:

1. Simplicity and Ease of Use

• Straightforward: The scale is simple, intuitive, and easy for consumers to understand and use without extensive training.
• Clear Anchors: It provides clear verbal anchors ranging from “dislike extremely” to “like extremely,” making it user-friendly.

2. Detailed Feedback

• Granularity: With nine points, the scale offers sufficient granularity to capture subtle differences in consumer preferences.
• Balance: The scale includes a neutral middle point, allowing respondents to express a lack of preference or indifference, which can be valuable in data analysis.

3. Versatility

• Broad Applicability: It can be used to evaluate a wide range of products, from foods and beverages to cosmetics and household items.
• Cross-Cultural Utility: The 9-point hedonic scale has been validated and found effective across different cultural contexts, making it a versatile tool for international research.

4. Statistical Robustness

• Data Analysis: The 9-point scale generates ordinal data that can be subjected to various statistical analyses, including means, medians, and non-parametric tests.
• Preference Mapping: The scale’s data can be used for advanced techniques like preference mapping and multivariate analysis, providing deeper insights into consumer preferences.

5. Historical Validation

• Established Norms: The 9-point hedonic scale has been extensively validated in numerous studies, establishing it as a reliable and credible method for sensory evaluation.
• Benchmarking: It provides a standard reference that can be used to benchmark products against each other over time.

6. Flexibility in Application

• Different Contexts: It can be used in controlled laboratory settings as well as in-home use tests, making it flexible for various research scenarios.
• Multiple Sensory Attributes: The scale can assess overall liking as well as specific sensory attributes like taste, texture, aroma, and appearance.

7. Consumer-Centric Approach

• Direct Feedback: The scale allows for direct feedback from consumers, which is crucial for product development and improvement.
• Acceptance Testing: It helps in determining consumer acceptance, guiding companies in making decisions about product launches and modifications.

8. Standardization

• Industry Standard: The 9-point hedonic scale is an industry standard recommended by organizations like the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), ensuring consistency and comparability across studies.

The 9-point hedonic scale is favored in sensory science for its simplicity, detailed feedback, versatility, statistical robustness, historical validation, flexibility, consumer-centric approach, and standardization. These attributes make it an invaluable tool for understanding and measuring consumer preferences and product acceptability.