The Effect of Favorite Colors on Memory Retention

The Effect of Favorite Colors on Memory Retention

Data/Results

Favorite color

Test Subject

First 4 items (in the order they

wrote) that the subject remembered

Blue

#1

Blue binder, blue butterfly, black sneakers, and black sunglasses

Materials

Hypothesis

#2

Black sunglasses, red cupcake, red pen, and black sneakers

Blue

#3

Red

Black sneakers, blue butterfly, green apple, and red cupcake

If a picture or item is in someone's favorite color, then it will improve their memory retention because it will have a stronger impression on their brain and will be processed more efficiently.

• Paper and pen to record data
• Clock to keep track of time
• 8 students (4 boys, 4 girls) that range from 12-13 years old
• Different pictures that vary in the favorite colors of students

Green

#4

Green apple, red pen, blue butterfly, and black sneakers

Literature Cited

http://colorseffectonmemory.blogspot.com/

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/

Independent Variable:

Green pencil case, green apple, red cupcake, and black sneakers

Studies show that the brain is more attracted to certain colors rather than just black and white. If an object or image is in someone's favorite color, then their brain would be even more attracted to it because it is used to seeing it often in what that person is wearing or even the color pen they are using. Therefore, the brain may respond and react easily to favorite colors, positively affecting memory retention.

#5

Blue

The color of each picture/item.

Testable Question

Green

Discussion/Conclusion

#6

Green apple, red pen, black sneakers, and blue butterfly

After performing my experiment, I came to the conclusion that favorite colors can positively affect memory retention, but not in a great amount. Therefore, my hypothesis was not fully supported.

Dependent Variable:

Procedure

How does favorite colors affect memory retention?

What I was expecting was that each test subject would immediately first write down the 2 items in their favorite color that they remembered. However, this only worked out with 2 of the test subjects. Also, 2 other students first wrote down 1 of the items that was in their favorite color from the set of pictures, but not both. The rest of the 4 subjects either did not write down any items in their favorite color or wrote 1 of them down, but as the last item on their list.

Blue binder, blue butterfly, red pen, and red cupcake

#7

Green

How well each test subject remembers each picture/item.

A possible error during the experiment was that the test subjects were focused more on the item itself, not its color. For example, only 1 person wrote down the pencil case as something they remembered while almost everyone listed the butterfly. Their brains could have been more attracted or interested in a certain item.

• Around 1 or 2 weeks before the experiment, ask 4 boys and 4 girls the ages of 12-13 years old what their favorite color is. Keep track of this data by writing it down.
• To prepare for the experiment, gather pictures of different items that vary in color. The colors of the items should be the colors that the students said were their favorite. Have 2 of each favorite color in the set of pictures. (In my experiment, I had 2 green pictures, 2 black pictures, 2 red pictures, and 2 blue pictures)
• The day of the experiment, make sure all students are tested in the same environment.
• Let each test subject observe the pictures for two minutes. Keep track of the time by using a clock.
• When the two minutes are up, give the student 5 minutes of free time where they are not allowed to look at the pictures anymore.
• After the 5 minutes, give each student a piece of paper to record the first 4 items they remembered from the set of pictures.

The 8 pictures the test subjects observed for the experiment:

This experiment connects to the real world because when studying for a test, it can be useful to know if taking notes in a certain color or your favorite color will improve your memory retention.

#8

Constants:

Black

Black sunglasses, black sneakers, red pen, and blue butterfly

• The favorite color of each test subject
• Age of each subject
• Environment the test is taken in
• The amount of time they have to observe the pictures (all subjects will be taking the same test)
• The leisure time they have after they observed the pictures

Jacqueline Rappa 721