COLOR AFFECTING MEMORY
Emily Hanwell
Bellwood Antis School District/ Grade 9
I wanted to know what color of
paper would improve memory the
most. For example, if you are
studying for a science test what
color would help the studying
process go quicker?
PROBLEM
•Does different color of
paper affect memory?
RESEARCH
• According to Dr. Morton Walker,
who wrote the book The Power
of Color, stated that different
colors have physical affects.
–Affects such as lowering heart rate and
reducing appetite.
FURTHER RESEARCH
• The book stated that colors elicit
different emotions and reactions.
RED VS. BLUE
• Red
– People pay the most attention to it
– Most energetic
– Warmest color
Have you ever noticed most ads have red in them?
RED VS. BLUE
• Blue
– Lowers body temperature
– Slows heart rate
– Reduces appetite
– Cooler color
HYPOTHESIS
• My hypothesis for this experiment,
is that the color blue will affect
memory by improving it the most.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
• Experimental variables
–Colored paper
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
• Experimental Groups
–B Group for blue paper
–R Group for red paper
–Y Group for yellow paper
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
• Control Variables
– Eyesight of people used
– Time the people have to
study
– When the people study
(During the day)
– Number of people used (10)
– Age of people used (14-45)
– Subjects being isolated and
separated from every
distraction
– Shade of color of paper
– Size of paper (Standard
size)
– Color of font
– Size of font
– Style of font (Times New
Roman)
– Number of items on the
list (20)
– The list of the same items
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
• Control Group
–no color, or white paper
PROCEDURE
This is the procedure I used to test my
hypothesis.
Step 1. After gathering all materials and 10
subjects, give the isolated person a list of 20
items in black ink on each colored paper (red,
yellow, blue, and white)
STUDYING PROCEDURE
Step 2. Allow subject to study the list by
following this procedure:
1. Subjects will be placed alone in a
room with limited distractions.
2. Study for 60 seconds.
3. Give the subject one color of paper
at a time.
4. Once the subject’s time is up stop
them from studying and then instruct them
to verbally repeat the items back in order.
PROCEDURE
This is the procedure I used to test my
hypothesis.
Step 1. After gathering all materials and 10
subjects, give the isolated person a list of 20
items in black ink on each colored paper (red,
yellow, blue, and white)
PROCEDURE CONTINUED
Step 3. Instruct the individual to verbally
repeat the list of items in order that was on
the paper.
Step 4. Record how many they get right.
When the subject makes a mistake, end the
count.
PROCEDURE –ADDITIONAL TRIALS
Step 5. Repeat with another subject (same
color of paper) until 10 have been tested.
Step 6. Repeat using a different colored
paper and rearranged list.
Step 7. Repeat using white paper this is my
control group.
DATA TABLE
C
o
l
o
r
o
f
p
a
p
e
r
1
Subjects
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4
3 2 3 12 4 4 7 4 6
Yellow 6
1 6 1 3 7 1 8 7 2
Blue
3
5 2 2 3 4 8 3 7 10
Red
3
8 6 3 6 8 7 4 8 9
White
*Numbers mean the number of correct answers each subject got per
color of paper.
N
u
m
b
e
r
o
f
c
o
rr
e
ct
a
n
s
w
e
r
s
CORRECT ANSWER BAR GRAPH
70
60
50
Blue
Red
Yellow
White
40
30
20
10
0
Colors
STANDARD DEVIATION
Chart Title
A
x
i
s
T
i
t
l
e
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
White
Yellow
Blue
Axis Title
Red
CONCLUSION
• My data does not support my
hypothesis.
Therefore, I reject my hypothesis that
blue colored paper would affect
memory the most by improving it.
POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS
• Have more people perform the experiment.
• Use all of the colors of the rainbow.
• Use people of the same age.