Continuing Education

March 2012

Hands on Techniques for Investigating, Mapping and Modelling Consumer and Sensory Data

This “hands on” training course is designed to give you the software, knowledge and expertise to analyse your own sensory and consumer trial data. You receive a one year licence for XLSTAT Sensory and a fully licensed copy of our Turf Calculator. The statistical techniques are clearly explained (we keep the mathematics to a minimum!) together with examples of applications and comparative merits of the different methods available. We provide both course hand outs and step by step practice exercises with annotated solutions. Our aim is to enable you to analyse your own data more effectively as soon as you get home from the course.

Location: Cliftons Training Facilities, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
From: March 20, 2012 to March 22, 2012
Offered by: Dr. Hal MacFie Consulting
Target audience: Beginner
Cost: $2550; 25% discount for members of academia

Further information: http://www.halmacfie.com/pages/melbournemar2012.html

A Powerful Framework for Sensory Product Testing

In this 3-day course, you will achieve a deeper understanding of traditional discrimination and rating methods by learning a common framework in which to interpret results across methodologies. In particular, you will learn how to select the most suitable and powerful discrimination methodology based on project objectives, how to develop standards to detect when sensory differences and ratings exceed a consumer-relevant acceptability threshold, how to assess and manage risks in product testing decisions, and effectively use the “no preference/difference” option. Invited speakers include Dr. Michael O’Mahony, Food Science and Technology professor at UC Davis and Mr. Frank Rossi, Associate Director, Applied Quantitative Sciences at Kraft Foods.

Location: The Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States
From: March 26, 2012 to March 28, 2012
Offered by: The Institute for Perception
Target audience: Intermediate
Cost: $1350; 50% discount applied to each additional registrant from the same company, Academic discount available

Further information: http://ifpress.com/short-courses/

Descriptive Analysis and Panel Training

In this 1.5 day course, you will learn new product profiling techniques through an in-depth exploration of descriptive panel methodologies. Specifically, you will connect a substantial body of research from the fields of cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience to the field of descriptive analysis and panel training. During this course you will understand and identify the strengths and weaknesses of descriptive analysis; reach beyond traditional techniques to improve panel training; learn to know your panelists better through advanced panel monitoring techniques; and become familiar with novel applications of descriptive analysis to category appraisal projects. Invited speakers include Dr. F. Gregory Ashby, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, UC Santa Barbara.

Location: The Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States
From: March 29, 2012 to March 30, 2012
Offered by: The Institute for Perception
Target audience: Intermediate
Cost: $850; 50% discount applied to each additional registrant from the same company, Academic discount available

Further information: http://ifpress.com/short-courses/

April 2012

Targeting the Consumer: Emerging Issues and Methods in Sensory and Consumer Science

This is a three-day intensive course designed to update you on practical advances in Consumer Science, Psychology of Food Choice and Market Research and New Product Development Techniques to help you conduct, analyse and use consumer research more effectively.

Location: MediaTek Training Facilities, 90 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, New York, United States
From: April 17, 2012 to April 19, 2012
Offered by: Dr. Hal MacFie Consulting
Target audience: Advanced
Cost: $2400; 25% discount for members of academia

Further information: http://www.halmacfie.com/pages/newyorkapr2012.html

Understanding Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is about exploring issues and answering questions. This 3 ½ day course is designed to provide the consumer research professional with the skills to uncover consumer insights that lead to actionable results thru hands on experience in designing, executing and interpreting qualitative research. The course will review different techniques for leading qualitative sessions with consumers and how to uncover and report meaningful conclusions. Through interactive workshops, the participants will develop discussion guides and conduct interviews with consumers in a focus group setting. Further understanding how to navigate thru a session and when and where to focus for a-ha moments will be explored. A key component of learning to communicate the results in a meaningful way to clients is included.

Location: Spectrum Discovery Center, 222 Oak Avenue, Kannapolis, NC, United States
From: April 17, 2012 to April 20, 2012
Offered by: Sensory Spectrum
Target audience: Beginner
Cost: $2,350 USD

Further information: See page 9 in the 2012 Course Booklet; http://www.sensoryspectrum.com/docs/SensorySpectrum2012CourseBooklet.pdf