An Objective Numerical Method of Assessing the Reliability of Time‐intensity Panelists

A measure of the reliability (T‐IR) of time‐intensity measurements was developed based on the concept of standard deviation as a measure of panelist variability. The T‐IR measure was applied to time‐intensity data collected from 10 panelists evaluating the sweetness of 4 model sweetener solutions on horizontal and vertical time‐intensity line orientations. T‐IR scores showed that the panelists were similarly reliable across the sweeteners and orientations. As well, independent of scale orientation, responses to sweeteners were similarly reliable. The T‐IR measure can be used to maintain a high level of performance by monitoring time‐intensity panelists. T‐IR also provides an objective method of selecting panelists for time‐intensity panels.