This guide is intended to help the user decide on the type of viewing conditions, visual scaling methods, and analysis that should be used to obtain reliable visual experimental data. It is also intended to illustrate the techniques that lead to visual observations that can be correlated with objective instrumental measurements of appearance attributes of objects. This guide includes a review of issues regarding the choice and design of viewing environments, an overview of various classes of visual experiments, a review of experimental techniques for threshold, matching, and scaling experiments, a review for data reduction and analysis procedures. The three different threshold and matching techniques namely, the methods of adjustment, limits, and constant stimuli, are explained. Perceptual scaling techniques reviewed include ranking, graphical rating, category scaling, paired comparisons, triadic combinations, partitioning, and magnitude estimation or production. Brief descriptions and examples, along with references to more detailed literature, are given on the appropriate types of data analysis for each experimental technique.

1.1 This guide is intended to help the user decide on the type of viewing conditions, visual scaling methods, and analysis that should be used to obtain reliable visual data.

1.2 This guide is intended to illustrate the techniques that lead to visual observations that can be correlated with objective instrumental measurements of appearance attributes of objects. The establishment of both parts of such correlations is an objective of Committee E12.

1.3 Among ASTM standards making use of visual observations are Practices D 1535, D 1729, D 3134, D 4086, and E 1478; Test Methods D 2616, D 3928, and D 4449; and Guide E 1499.

1.4 This guide does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.