Quantitative Descriptive Analysis

Developed by Tragon Corporation in 1974, Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA)® is a behavioral sensory evaluation approach that uses descriptive panels to measure a product’s sensory characteristics.Panel members use their senses to identify perceived similarities and differences in products, and articulate those perceptions in their own words.Sensory evaluation is a science that measures, analyzes, and interprets the reactions of the senses of sight, smell, sound, taste, and texture (or kinesthesis) to products. It is a people science; i.e., people are essential to obtain information about products. Developed by Tragon Corporation in 1974, Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA)® is a behavioral sensory evaluation approach that uses descriptive panels to measure a product’s sensory characteristics.Panel members use their senses to identify perceived similarities and differences in products, and articulate those perceptions in their own words.Sensory evaluation is a science that measures, analyzes, and interprets the reactions of the senses of sight, smell, sound, taste, and texture (or kinesthesis) to products. It is a people science; i.e., people are essential to obtain information about products. Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) is a registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.The term was coined by Herbert Stone (a food scientist) and Joel L. Sidel (a psychologist)in 1974 while at the Stanford Research Institute, (now known as SRI International (SRI)).Stone and Sidel later founded Tragon Corporation, a successful spin-off of SRI, to develop and market QDA.