The effects of color on memory performance
Abstract
The cognitive ability of a human being depends on the relationship of the linkages of various items that influence memory performance, such as perception, attention, and critical thinking. Individuals portray different thinking abilities depending on the labels of thinking. An increasing concern memory research has been established to understand the various ways memory performance can be improved. Some people find it difficult to understand some colors and will take pretty much time to load some colors into their minds. The main question that the study seeks to address is whether color enhancement can be used to improve memory among individuals. It all depends on the approach in which various approaches have been designed among individuals. When people have the right colour to comprehend, it becomes easy for them to become aware of various ideas that sink deep in their minds. The study used systematic sampling and quantitative data in understanding some of the trends established among people who memorize colors as a way to improve memory performance.
Introduction
Memory is a given mental process that incorporates encoding, retain as well as retrieving important environmental information. The information can be in the form of colours that people see and load within their memory. The human cognitive system deals with the entire process of encoding information and memorizing it to be retained for a longer period. One significant and most technical question in memory research entails ways that memory performance can be improved (Smilek, Dixon, Cudahy, & Merikle, 2002). However, this study has established that with the use of different variables, retrieval operations can be enhanced through colour. When a given colour is loaded in individuals’ minds, it becomes easy for people to understand the colour and retain it for a longer period.
It is believed that colour in a great visual experiment that can be justified through human beings. Colour is seen to be a very powerful information retention channel that helps develop the cognitive system of humans and engage them in a reliable learning process. According to Ludlow & Wilkins (2009), colour is an important element to enhance learning, marketing, and communication. For instance, a marketing study can identify that colour can significantly increase the attention of people towards a given advert. It all depends on the presentation, which can be influenced and determined through a reliable process that can change most of the processes made. That explains why most of the advertisements made consider attractive colours that can capture the attention of viewers in one way or the other. According to Ludlow & Wilkins (2009), coloured ads attract up to 43% more than any ad that is made without considering the colour used. This indicates the need to have proper information whenever making any form of advertisement. Understanding the effects color has on memory performance is essential to students as it engages them in the right undertakings and engages them in different ways. It is a suitable process that tries to incorporate various identifications with what should be structured and effectively done.
Across major educational settings, higher demands have been established in attaining greatly in school with the use of cognitive abilities. When students are subjected to the cognitive approach of learning, their memory abilities increased in one way or the other. It all depends on how significant elements have been enhanced (Wichmann, Sharpe, & Gegenfurtner, 2002). The cognitive abilities of most students will be drawn majorly on their levels of attentiveness, remembrance, and how they understand various subjects. There should be a proper strategy that will evaluate students and try as much as possible and malign with some of the needs they consider to become better in various approaches. Also, specific interventions made with the use of the colour deal with memory-related problems in hospitals such as difficulty in learning, autism, and dyslexia. These problems sprout from the lack of proper memory exercises. When people subject their minds to infrequent memory exercises, it becomes easy for them to attain an ultimate undertaking and change how various principles have been completed.
Research Question
- What is the color retention rate for graduate learners?
- Is there any significance in the level of color retention rate of participants exposed to both congruent and incongruent colors?
Research Hypotheses
There is no significance in the level of color retention rate of participants exposed to both congruent and incongruent colors
Methodology
The study employed a post-test quasi-experimental research design, with color being the independent variable. The dependent variable was considered at two levels, which are the chromatic level and the achromatic level of color used for the control experiment. The retention rate for individuals memorizing the various colors was considered to be the dependent variable subjecting individuals into an approach to efficiently understand how color could be used. The method considered 30 participants who were selected randomly with the criteria of selecting being manageability in terms of the various number of respondents attained. It was considered that two single words of at most three syllables were listed and printed in white sheets to outline the recording of participants and record the outcome. In the first category that was considered, achromatic blank ink color was used to print the syllables in the white sheets. For the congruent colors, it was done that the same twenty words had been printed in diverse colors, which were associated with other words such as yellow and red. For those incongruent colors, similar twenty words were printed with colors that were not associated with the given words such as yellow and blue colors.
Different participants were randomly given to select either of the three colors. Congruent, incongruent, and achromatic depending on their preferences. The last results made sure that a slot of ten participants each had selected one type of color. This was to avoid biasedness and make sure that uniform results had been obtained at the end. Different respondents were provided with a list of achromatic, congruent, and incongruent colors to determine their various preferences and select the best color. Different participants were provided with adequate time to study the words and come up with their judgment pertaining to what they were seeing. This was the best approach that will make sure appropriate elements had been identified and effectively designed. The main purpose of the given arithmetic task was to make sure that all participants from undertaking suitable rehearsal of the words could be built their memory level and retain the color for sometimes. The participants were then given black sheets that they were required to fill by recalling the words in the given colors. The process was repeated for quite sometimes to make sure that the participants gave their different responses.
Result
The results indicated that a clear advantage of color memory was possible with the considerations of various mechanisms used. The methodology applied incorporated appropriateness of the participants giving clear data from their minds as they filled the black sheets. The participants reported approximately 8% improved performance of colors exposed in black and white conditions. Also, the images, when mixed with diverse exposure durations of one and in six different image contrast attained a performance rate of; 5%, 10%, 16%, 56%, 76%, and 100%. The given contrasts applied in color black and white, and there was no form of unprocessed indication of substantial problems in the color’s compilations made. The images of the colors outlined to have captured a better memory recognition over black and white. There was no significant diversity in the lower contrast of about 5% to 16%. It was indicated that the images having low contrast were hardly visible and changed the manner in which diverse options had been.
The results showed a significant interaction that was found in the study mode and test mode approach, which was given as F (1, 30) = 8.209, P < 0.01. in addition, the performance of the different images gave diverse colors and undertook a test of black and white, which had been deteriorated in different ways. The performance was better with images of other colors with a test result, which was found to be F (1, 30) = 4.576, P < 0.05. however, a similar outcome was reported in another different test experiment where the images had a colored frame with significant increase of 76% to around 98% memory recognition than images having a black frame, t (12) = 5.51, P < 0.05.
Furthermore, further study and experimentation showed the effects of implicit color, and explicit memory was attached to each other. in the hypothesis that was previously completed, shorter response time to stimulate comparison of noncolored and white stimuli. It is estimated that 30 colored and 30 noncolored objects have been used the phases of the participants and involve naming tasks of the 60 experimental designs. The test phases and the different participants recognized the objects that were being used and underpinned appropriate issues that had been completed in one way or the other.
Discussion
The study reviewed a number of different colors to understand the level of memory performance. The ways in which diverse alternatives had been done indicate a positive approach towards understanding the right principles. Diverse studies completed show the effects color has on memory, and the ability of individuals to record certain colors over a long period of time is also outlined. The first important aspect that has been considered as the way individuals can apply appropriate inventions to control the retrieval phase of various information. The color used has been presented when the participants are asked to memorize various colors and show them the color retrieval of the information they have used. The major rule in the identified ideas goes ahead in understanding the specific principle that has been able to evaluate the connections between two diverse options and come up with a designed memory approach that will be used to effectively establish the right principles needed.
Furthermore, when there are few combinations of colors, there is diversity in the results obtained. The results become systematic and specific to particular highlights made. Appropriate combinations of colors are significant as it has the ability to produce diverse levels of contrasts and influence memory in different ways. Higher levels of the identified contrasts refer to the color that is hue. The stimuli having a foreground red background are anticipated to have a greater level of contrast compared with other colors, which is a plus. The use of the color is an approach that detail important issues that try to understand colors and engage appropriate principles that are positively aligned with the right processes.
Conclusion
In summary, one important aspect of the study of the effects of color on memory performance is the cognitive efficiency that was obtained. Research done on memory performance has given an increasing strategy to be employed to make sure that there is a successful retrieval of various aspects considered. It appears to have a basis through which color associations and its significances to memory establishment have been made. In simple terms, color is seen to have a potential ability to influence memory performance and can be used as a basis of gauging the color identified. The choice of color can be used to store memory and see its performance in one way or the other. however, the influences that are structured go a long way in identifying the right aspects that could change how defined issues are done.
References
Ludlow, A. K., & Wilkins, A. J. (2009). Colour as a therapeutic intervention: The case of JG. J Autism Dev Disord, 39(5), 815-818.
Smilek, D., Dixon, M. J., Cudahy, C., & Merikle, P. M. (2002). Synesthetic color experiences influence memory. Psychological science, 13(6), 548-552.
Wichmann, F. A., Sharpe, L. T., & Gegenfurtner, K. R. (2002). The contributions of color to recognition memory for natural scenes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 28(3), 509.