Sensory testing has been developed into a precise, formal, structured methodology that is continually being updated to refine existing techniques. The developed methods serve economic interests and can establish the worth or acceptance of a commodity. Sensory tests offer a course to select the product that optimizes value for money. Sensory evaluation is used as a practical application in product development by aiding in product matching, improvements, and grading.
Research is another area where sensory evaluation is frequently used.
Evaluation of a product may be needed to determine the affects an experiment had on its subject. Simply stated, sensory evaluation is divided into two methods, subjective and objective testing. Subjective tests involve objective panelists, while objective testing employs the use of lab instruments with no involvement of the senses. One such subjective test is the use of the Hedonic scale method. This rating scale method measures the level of the liking of foods, or any other product where an affective tone is necessary.