EFFECT OF TEXT BACKGROUND COLOR ON HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE REMEMBERED

Andy Lee

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How does the background color of text affect memory?

HYPOTHESES If the background color is white, then more

numbers will be memorized. (Null) There will be no difference in results for

the different background colors.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Visual Cortex: Part of the brain that processes information from visual input. See things better with higher contrast (easier to

see) Yellow + white=low contrast, hence it is hard to

see Short Term Memory

Memories decay very fast Must recall this short term memory in order to

turn it into long term memory Chunks of information are easily stored instead

of large strings. 192-168-21 is easier then reading 19216821

DESIGN DIAGRAM

LEVELSBackground Colors

Blue Green Red Yellow White*

Trials 20 20 20 20 20

Dependent Variable: Amount of Numbers Memorized

Constants: Color of text, size of card, amount of numbers on card, time allowed to memorize

IV: Color of text background

RESULTS

Color Red Yellow Blue Green White

Average 6.14 7 6.81 6.23 8.94

DATA

These are the results of 100 tests.

Each person did each color, so I only had to get 20 signatures

5x20=100

DATA (IN TABLE FORM)

Red Yellow Blue Green White

3 6 8 7 4 8 7 5 9 8 5 9 4 5 6 12 4 4 6 8 4 3 6 6 6

8 5 9 7 3 8 4 11 3 5 6 8 8 5 6 6 6 6 9 4 7 4 5 12 3

7 6 7 4 7

14 3 8 3 5 2 4 5 5 3 4 9 6 5 8 5 5 9 6 7

5 7 6 7 5 6 7 7 9 6 10 9 3 10 7 4 3 5 4 6 5 5 6 6 8

10 7 10 4 10 10 5 6 9 11 8 8 9 6 8 10 9 8 5 6 6 9 11 10 8

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Colors Expected Observed O-E (O-E)² (O-E)² E

Red 8.94 6.14 2.8 7.84 .877

Yellow 8.94 7 -1.94 -3.7636

.421

Blue 8.94 6.81 -2.13 -4.5369

.507

Green 8.94 6.23 -2.71 7.3441 .821

White 8.94 8.94 0 0 0

↑ ↑ 2.626 ↑

Used this number for my expected because it was the control. χ² value

GRAPH OF THE AVERAGES

Red Yellow Blue Green White0123456789

10

The Effect of Text Background Color On How Many Numbers Are Re-

membered

Am

ount

of

num

bers

rem

em

bere

d

Color of background

CONCLUSIONS PART ONE

I can accept my null hypothesis. (Null) There will be no difference in results for

the different background colors. My p-value was 2.626. This means .7 < p < .5.

CONCLUSIONS PART TWO

HOWEVERColors Expecte

dObserved O-E (O-E)² (O-E)²

E

Red 8.94 6.14 2.8 7.84 .877

Yellow 8.94 7 -1.94 -3.7636 .421

Blue 8.94 6.81 -2.13 -4.5369 .507

Green 8.94 6.23 -2.71 7.3441 .821

White 8.94 8.94 0 0 0

↑ 2.626

The observed value for the white colored background is obviously higher than the rest

SOURCES OF ERROR PART ONE

Color blind people They may not be affected by the colors, making

my results insignificant Pressure

I would sometimes ask people in a really urgent voice because of my impatience.

SOURCES OF ERROR PART TWO

Patterns It was brought to my attention that one of the

numbers was easy to remember. 492819421975190. Hard? 4928 1942 1975 190 1942=WW II 1975=Easy year to remember Only leaves 7 numbers to really remember.

Background noise Distracted some people

IMPROVEMENTS

Can’t do anything for colorblind people. Sorry.

Could say in instructions: “Memorize this and when I say stop, repeat it to me,” instead of asking after they were done.

Do it in an isolated room Kept the light conditions the same

Incandescent/Fluorescent Try to keep patterns out of the numbers, but

that would defeat the purpose of having them as random numbers.

EXTENSIONS

Effect of text on memory. Effect of talking out loud during

memorization on memorization. Test different colors such as purple or orange

color

THANKS TO

All of those who participated. Mrs. P for teaching us Chi-squared analysis. To those who listened to this presentation. Yeah that’s all.

Happy 4th day of 2011

Su

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