Taste tests are a tool that marketers have been using for decades. One soda maker giant has been conducting a “challenge” since the mid-1970s. A fast-food chain conducted a series of taste tests in 2008 that ended up being a successful campaign for the restaurant.

For this assignment, you will conduct a taste test using at least 7 participants. Select a packaged food product such as chips, cereal, cookies, or ice cream. You will use a brand name product and its store brand or generic counterpart. Be sure to compare 2 like products. For example: do not have a taste test of a savory cereal and a fruity cereal. You want to compare the fruity cereal with a generic or store brand fruity cereal. After the taste test, ask each respondent what brand of the product he or she usually buys before revealing the selected product.

HINT: Food and lifestyle magazines and Web sites publish taste tests periodically. It may be a good idea to see how they compare various products so you have a better idea of how to conduct your study.