Dynamics of liking for flavoured crackers: Test of predictive value of a boredom test

The principal aim of this study was to compare two experimental conditions for measuring the effect of repeated consumption on liking: a laboratory boredom test and a home use test. Another goal was to investigate the impact of perceived familiarity, appropriateness and complexity on the dynamics of liking. Two groups of consumers were recruited one for each condition. Five variants of salty crackers, each with a different flavour, were tested. The laboratory condition did not show any difference in the dynamics of liking among the flavours. The home condition revealed a significant increase in liking for only one flavour. This increase could not be related to the level of complexity of the flavour or to other factors measured in this study. However,for both conditions, familiarity and appropriateness had a strong effect: the most familiar and appropriate flavours were always the most preferred. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.