Color Me Forgetful: Does Color Affect Memory?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective is to determine if color affects memory. More specifically, will highlighting help retain information. Methods/Materials Tested effectiveness of color on memory through 2 experiments using 5 word lists, 42 subjects, a package of Sharpie Tank Highlighters, and a clock. In both experiments several test subjects were asked to review different lists of words that were highlighted in different colors to see which color would help the subjects remember the words on the lists. Repeated trials were run to determine if the subjects preferred different colors. Results In both the experiments the results for pink was slightly higher than the other colors tested. Conclusions/Discussion Repeated trials with multiple colored lists revealed no significant difference in either of the two conducted experiments. However the pink did ever-so slightly better. It is concluded that the color of the highlighter is not a very strong factor when it comes to learning in everyday life.

Competition history

• CSEF 2016 Cognitive Science (Junior Division Only) · Entry J0723

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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