3.5. Cluster analysis
Agglomerative hierarchal cluster analysiswas used to group approximately
94% of the consumers into four clusters based on their overall
acceptability ratings of the prawns from the different salt treatments
(Table 4). The remaining 6% of consumers did not like any of the
prawn treatments and accordinglywere removed fromthe cluster analysis.
Replication 1 was excluded from the cluster analysis since this
replication did not include the marinated shell-on treatment in the
evaluation of acceptability. This sample was omitted to minimize the
number of samples that consumerswould evaluate. However, itwas included
in replication 2 and 3 since the results fromreplication 1 indicated
that themarinated no-shell treatment receivedmuch higher sensory
ratings when compared to prawns from other treatments.