2017 Volume 16 Issue 1 Pages 27-36
Techniques for modeling hierarchical and multidimensional human perceptual and affective experiences afford further understanding of the affective values of humans with regard to products and services. In this study, we developed a method for the graphical modeling of texture-related perceptual and affective experiences, which were expressed by adjectives. The method enables the establishment of semantically causal relationships among the adjectives using the results of a standard sensory evaluation task based on adjective rating. The initial model was simplified by covariance selection to enable the definition of the causalities based on the assumption that the perception of the physical aspects of material surfaces produces affective and more personal experiences. For the purpose of validation through an experiment, we applied the developed method to the textures of 46 different flat materials and developed a model that was logically comparable to previously developed models. The proposed graphical modeling method promises to facilitate the design of product surfaces and an analysis of the subjective feelings induced by touching them.