Use of Color to Boost Memory Recall
Is there a connection between color and memory? If so, what impact could such a connection have on the study habits of college students? Could the color of classroom walls impact test performance? These are the questions asked by three students at Southern Adventist University.
Cognitive Psychology Professor, Cristy Pratt, tasked students with designing original research to present at Southern’s Campus Research Day on December 4, 2015. In response, Jessica Malloch, Gloria Andrusiak, and Ann Lee conducted a literature review, considering the link between color and memory. Their review disclosed that the color red was associated with increased recall. To further investigate this association, the students designed a primary research study that explored the impact of certain colors on name recall. The goal of their project was to explore what colors, if any, would aid or hinder recall of words and objects.
Specifically, the research examined the impact of the colors red, green, and white on name recall. Thirty Southern students, 15 male and 15 female, were shown nine pictures of human faces in front of red, green, and white backgrounds. To the right of each picture was an assigned gender-neutral name of the person featured in the photograph. The subjects studied the images for 20 seconds after which they were immediately shown the same pictures, this time without names, and asked to recall as many names as possible.
Considering their literature review, Malloch, Andrusiak, and Lee hypothesized that the rate of name recall would be the highest for the pictures with a red background. Conversely, their research disclosed that green stimuli produced the highest level of name recall, followed by white and then red. Green was recalled 40 times, neutral was recalled 35 times, and red was recalled 30 times.
Surprised that the results of the experiment did not support their hypothesis, Malloch, Andrusiak, and Lee noted that in prior research, red was considered harsher and more hostile than other colors, while cool colors, such as green or blue, were considered calmer and more peaceful. Thus, these students wondered if the color red might have made participants uncomfortable or nervous, thereby decreasing recall.
Malloch, Andrusiak, and Lee feel that further research is warranted. Their recommendation for future research focuses on whether participants view images on red backgrounds as more hostile than those on green or neutral backgrounds. The results of such research could have significance with regard to classroom design and color, as well as the types of study materials (such as the color of highlighters or notecards) used to boost memory and recall on college campuses.
