PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of colored versus black text on the ability of seventh graders to memorize a word list.
I became interested in this idea when my mom and I were watching television. I noticed that almost every commercial was in bright colors rather than black. This made me wonder if there was a reason for that. I’ve also always wanted to have a chance to study human memory.
The information gained from this experiment could help people who make advertisements. It will also help people who want to improve their memory. Teachers may also want to know so they can have their students remember study terms better.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis was that seventh graders would remember the words printed in colored ink better than black ink.
I based my hypothesis on the results reported by Mary LaBissoniere who did a similar project “The Effect of Color on Memory Retention of Items on a List” in the year 2000. She concluded, “Colored words were remembered better than those printed in black.” I also based it on the fact that almost all advertisements are in color.
The constants in this study were:
• The number of words in each list
• The amount of time to study the list
• The amount of time to fill out the response sheet
• Time passing between studying and taking the quiz
• The place to take the test
• The difficulty of the test
The manipulated variable was the print color of the list the subjects were to memorize.
The responding variable was the number of words the subjects remembered.
To measure the responding variable, I scored the subject’s responses using a list of the correct answers. Then I counted the number correct.
MATERIALS
|
QUANTITY
|
ITEM DESCRIPTION
|
|
1
|
Classroom for testing
|
|
44
|
Tests
|
|
8
|
Desks
|
|
2
|
Experimenter
scripts
|
|
8
|
Pencils
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22
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7th grade students
|
PROCEDURES
1. Create word lists and tests
Ø Select words that are below
the average seventh grade spelling level
Ø Create 2 equally difficult
lists with 25 words in each. Do not alphabetize these words.
Ø Label one List A and the
other List B
Ø Create a Test A by randomly
adding an additional 25 words of similar difficulty to List. Do alphabetize
these test items.
Ø Create Test B in the same
manner, but be sure not to repeat any words previously used in Test A.
Ø Create an answer sheet for
Test A, by marking the words in this test that were originally in List A.
o
Create
an answer sheet for Test B, by marking the words in that were originally in
List .
o
Create
an instruction script to explain testing procedures to each group before they
take the test
2. Randomly assign boys with permission slips equally to Test Group 1 and 2.
3. Randomly assign girls with permission slips equally to Test Group 1 and 2.
4. Arrange an empty classroom so that it has enough desks for one test group with the desks spaced far apart (about 1 meter.)
5. Have Testing Group 1 come into the classroom and sit
6. Read instructions to the group and answer questions.
7. Using the testing schedule, give them the appropriate List (A or B) in the correct color (black or colored).
8. Have them memorize the list for two minutes
9. After two minutes collect the lists
10. Wait five minutes before giving them the matching test sheet (have them play tic-tac-toe or another game on paper that has no words involved.)
11. Pass out the test sheets and pencils
12. Instruct them to circle exactly 25 words, those in the original List.
13. Give the group 3 minutes to circle all the words they can remember.
14. After three minutes collect all the tests and pencils
15. Dismiss students to class
16. Check their answers with answer key for this test
17. Record the number correct
18. Repeat steps 5-17 for groups two, three, and four
19. Average scores for each treatment.
20. Compare the results to see if the students remembered words in colored ink or in black ink better.
The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of colored versus black text on the ability of seventh graders to memorize a word list.
The results of the experiment were that seventh graders could remember words printed in black better than in color. According to the data the average words that were correct with black text were 19. For color the average words correct was 17.
My hypothesis was that seventh graders would remember the words printed in colored ink better than black ink.
The
results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because according to
the data the average words that were correct with black text was 19. For color
the average words correct was 17.
After
thinking about the results of this experiment, I wonder if girls would remember
the words better than boys would.
If I
were to conduct this project again I would make the words closer to the same
reading grade level. I would also use many more subjects.
Researched
by ------ Whitney B
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