Color Influence on Memorization By Collin Heiry Introduction

Color Influence on Memorization By: Collin Heiry

Introduction: Sight and Memory • Brain functions in integration of senses • Occipital lobe integrates sight • Split into two areas (Visual association area, and primary visual cortex) • Visual association area- integrates visual information by relating it to past experience • Relationship between sight and memory • Many things can influence memory • Our sight can influence how we remember an event

Purpose of Experiment (Questions) • What is the effect of colored words on memorization? • Will the color black be the most efficient to recall a list of words because humans are subjected to this the most? • Does the order of color list presentation affect a subjects ability to memorize words?

Hypothesis • Null Hypothesis The colors of words will have no significant effect on memory compared to black • Alternative Hypothesis Colored words will significantly reduce recall compared to black ink

Materials • Pens • Paper • Timer (Used cellphone) • 4 different word lists • Each containing 20 words with different colors (black, blue, red, and green) • Subjects: Between ages of 16 -22, high school and college students, male and female

Procedures 1. The group was given the same word list, and the same color in this order starting with black (black, blue, red, or green). Test #2 began with blue and so on • All students were placed in same quiet room • All students were given same instructions correctly 2. The subjects read the list of words for 1 minute 3. The subjects wrote down words they recall for 1 minute without the word list 4. Groups switched to a different color using the identical word list and repeated steps 1 -3 until all subjects have experienced all four colors (Experiment was conducted four times using different word lists)

Experimental Parts • Independent Variable • Spelling of Words • Order of Words on paper • Dependent Variable • Subjects’ ability to recall groups of words • Order of words studied i. e. black, red, blue, green • Controlled Variable • Time available to study (1 minute) • Time available to write (1 minute) • Method of Memorization (Reading)

Word Color Influence on Recall for Test #1 P-value: 0. 007035 9. 25 7 Black 7 Blue Red 5. 75 Green

Word Color Influence on Recall for Test #2 P-value: 0. 358494 8. 75 9. 25 6. 5 Blue Red Green 8 Black

Word Color Influence on Recall for Test #3 P-value: 0. 222513 7. 5 Red 8. 75 Green 10 7. 5 Black Blue

Word Color Influence on Recall for Test #4 P-value: 0. 372101 8. 25 Green 9 9. 5 7 Black Blue Red

Word Color Influence on Recall for all Tests P-value: 0. 064333 7. 875 Black 9. 375 Blue 7. 6875 7. 1325 Red Green

Chi Square for all Tests Black Blue Red Green Expected 129 129 Observed 126 150 123 117

Chi Square Results = 4. 884 < 7. 81, therefore accepting the null hypothesis

Conclusions • Null Hypothesis was accepted for all tests except Test #1 • Students showed no significant change in word recollection when memorizing a list of words with different colors • Test #1’s P-value was below 0. 05, therefore declining the null hypothesis and accepting the alternative hypothesis that colored words do affect memorization • When given a different order of colors while testing each test, the subjects did not show significant change in word recollection

Limitations • • Illegible handwriting was a factor (Made it difficult to grade papers accurately) Relatively small group Motivation? Limited Number of tests Learning curve? The same test was used (easier for memorization and recall)

Ideas for Further Testing • Larger population size • Word lists variation • Subject Variation (Age)

Works Cited Abrahams, Peter H. The Atlas of the Human Body: A Complete Guide to How the Body Works. Leicester: Silverdale, 2002. Print. Mc. Mahon, Mary, and O. Wallace. “What is Sense Memory? ” Wise. Geek. Conjecture, 27 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2014 Davis, Stephen F. , and Joseph Palladino J. Psychology: Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000. Print. Zimbardo, Philip G. , Robert Johnson L. , and Vivian Hamilton Mc. Cann. Psychology: Core Concepts. Harlow: Pearson, 2014. Print.

Data Test #1 Test #2 Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4 Black 8 6 7 7 Blue 11 9 8 Red 9 6 Green 5 5 Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4 Black 5 6 8 13 9 Blue 9 11 7 8 6 7 Red 10 10 10 7 7 6 Green 6 8 5 7 Test #4 Test #3 Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4 Black 8 7 10 11 7 Blue 12 10 9 7 9 8 Red 6 5 10 7 8 10 Green 11 8 6 8 Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Subject 4 Black 5 11 7 7 Blue 12 11 10 Red 6 7 Green 9 8