effect of text background color on how many numbers are remembered
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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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
EFFECT OF TEXT BACKGROUND COLOR ON HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE REMEMBEREDAndy 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
RESULTSColor Red Yellow Blue Green WhiteAverage 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 White3 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 ANALYSISColors Expected Observed O-E (O-E)² (O-E)²
ERed 8.94 6.14 2.8 7.84 .877Yellow 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 .821White 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
Amou
nt o
f num
bers
rem
embe
red
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
ERed 8.94 6.14 2.8 7.84 .877Yellow 8.94 7 -1.94 -3.7636 .421Blue 8.94 6.81 -2.13 -4.5369 .507Green 8.94 6.23 -2.71 7.3441 .821White 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
Super small text good job if you read this