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Sensory Science: Measuring the Senses

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Sensory Science: Measuring the Senses

This course is part of Essentials of Sensory Science Specialization

Instructor: Rebecca Bleibaum

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Essentials of Sensory Science Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

The brain is the most sophisticated sensory interpreter that we know of. Our brain is like a very powerful computer, but no engineered computer exists that can mimic our human sensory capabilities. This course will explore sensory science by examining how the senses are connected to the brain and how the brain makes meaning of the signals it receives. Various types of testing, scales, and measurements are described that allow scientists to quantify senses and the brain’s experience of senses. Through this course, you will learn to employ scientific approaches such as discrimination testing and Thurstonian Modeling to measure the senses.

Module details

In this module, we will dive into the senses and the brain and discuss tricks the senses may play. We will then discuss the mind and how information is processed. We’ll finish up this module with the Theory of Sensory Measurement and Psychophysics. There is also an optional podcast conversation with Dr. Martin Kern. Let’s get started.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment3 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 44 minutes

Course Introduction3 minutes
Module Introduction1 minute
Tricks: The Senses and the Brain, Part 16 minutes
Tricks: The Senses and the Brain, Part 213 minutes
The Mind3 minutes
Basic Unit of Sensory Systems: The Neuron7 minutes
Theory of Sensory Measurements/Psychophysics11 minutes

2 readingsTotal 42 minutes

Course Navigation and Safety Statement1 minute
(Optional) Podcast: A Conversation with Dr. Martin Kern41 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 1 Quiz30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 50 minutes

Learning Goals10 minutes
(Optional Forum) Podcast: Dr. Martin Kern10 minutes
Senses and the Brain30 minutes

What is happening cognitively when we do scaling? In this module, we will review what scaling is, the purpose, and methods of scaling. We’ll wrap up this module with a discussion on the different types of scales, including ordinal scales, quantitative scales, interval scales, and analysis. Let’s begin.

What's included

5 videos1 assignment

In this module, we will continue our discussion on scales and measurements. We will also discuss methods of scaling and ranking and review other types of scales, such as Hedonic scales, Label Affective Magnitude, Just-About-Right, and other scales of interest. Let's begin.

What's included

5 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 30 minutes

Methods of Scaling and Ranking: Ratio Scales6 minutes
Hedonic Scales: The 9-Point Hedonic Scale8 minutes
Hedonic Scales: Testing with Children4 minutes
Labeled Affective Magnitude (LAM) and Just-About-Right (JAR) Scales7 minutes
Check-All-That-Apply and Other Scales of Interest7 minutes

4 readingsTotal 195 minutes

A Labeled Affective Magnitude (LAM) Scale for Assessing Food Like/Disliking75 minutes
A Food Action Rating Scale for Measuring Food Acceptance40 minutes
Appropriateness of the Cognitive-Contextual Aspects of Food Acceptance50 minutes
A Comparison of Sensory Difference Testing Procedures30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Module 3 Quiz15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 15 minutes

Acceptance Testing15 minutes

Why do some people perform better on tests than others? In this final module, we will end our discussion with an overview of discrimination testing methods. We'll also take a closer look at discrimination tests and response bias - and how to avoid it. We'll move on to Thurstonian Modeling and finish up with an optional podcast conversation with Lori Rothman. Let's begin.