Hedonic scaling: A review of methods and theory

In recent years, interest in measuring hedonic responses has grown tremendously in both basic psychophysics and applied food and consumer research, resulting in the development of several new hedonic scaling methods. With these developments have come questions about theoretical and practical differences among the methods. The goal of this review is to compare and contrast these different approaches for the purpose of aiding researchers in selecting the most appropriate scaling method for their specific measurement needs. The review begins by addressing fundamental issues in scaling methodology, including the role of context effects, then moves on to describing and discussing the development of various types of hedonic scales, their specific properties, and their potential advantages and disadvantages.

► Fundamental issues in scaling methodology are discussed, including different scale types and the role of context effects.
► Hedonic scaling methods are illustrated with each scale’s utilities, properties, advantages, and disadvantages.
► This review will guide researchers in selecting the most appropriate scaling method for their specific measurement needs.