In long tasting sequences, recency, fatigue, contrast, and position effects can make one sample appear preferable even when the liquid itself is not the cause.
The direction and size of an order effect depend on task, sample set, and participants.
Randomization, counterbalancing, short flights, rest, and repeat sessions are part of valid sensory measurement rather than procedural niceties.
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Whiskey Knowledge Databases › Zettels
Mechanism Zettel · Developing · grounded in 1 Literature Note.
Atomic statement
In long tasting sequences, recency, fatigue, contrast, and position effects can make one sample appear preferable even when the liquid itself is not the cause.
Rationale and implications
Randomization, counterbalancing, short flights, rest, and repeat sessions are part of valid sensory measurement rather than procedural niceties.
Counterpoints and limits
The direction and size of an order effect depend on task, sample set, and participants.
Use in the project
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September 27 Evidence Qualification
The complete Quigley-McBride article and two-page archive protocol were reviewed. Later positions were associated with higher group ratings in 136 seven-whisky sessions, involving 216 distinct whisky types rather than 952 independent bottles. Sequence was manager-selected; public discussion, beer between samples, and a penalty for scores below five complicate causal inference. ABV/age adjustment does not prove memory recency caused the pattern. Use counterbalancing and private ratings as proposed safeguards; this source did not test a best flight size or prove that shorter flights remove bias.
