Quad folding: a simple idea for the subjective property characterization of large sample sets

Abstract

Quad analysis has proven useful for characterizing subjective properties, primarily properties such as carpet hand and body in the textile industry. In essence, it provides an efficient method for conducting paired comparisons, the preferred method for quantifying such properties. An extension to quad analysis, quad folding of one quad design into another, is likewise an efficient method to rank order the subjective properties of larger data sets. A rank ordering of 62 carpets by their body is provided as an example of folding six groups of eight carpets (two replicated) into one another.

Keywords:

• subjective property characterization
• paired comparisons
• quad analysis
• balanced incomplete block designs
• cut-pile carpet