Aesthetic Characteristic of the Food (Texture)

What it measures

A three-item scale measuring the perceived uniformity of a food item's surface texture — whether it feels and appears even and consistent or irregular and varied. One item is reverse-scored. Structurally parallel to the companion colour and shape scales, differing only in its focus on tactile-visual texture properties. The scale captures a sensory dimension of food aesthetics that is particularly relevant for unprocessed and natural food products where texture variation is a visible quality cue.

Response format

7-point Likert

Scale items

• The texture of the food is uniform.
• The texture of the food is consistent.
• The texture of the food varies (i.e., is inconsistent). (r)

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

Single alpha: α = .88 — Suher, Szocs & van Ittersum (2021, pretest). VALIDITY: Not reported. One item is reverse-scored. Part of the three-scale food aesthetic battery alongside Color (ACFC) and Shape (ACFS) — all structurally identical. Companion scales: ACFC and ACFS.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Suher, Jacob, Courtney Szocs, and Koert van Ittersum (2021). When imperfect is preferred: The differential effect of aesthetic imperfections on choice of processed and unprocessed foods. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 49(5), 903–924.

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