The Effect of Colored versus White Paper on Math Scores

Researched by Christian H.
2003-04

Purpose

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if tests printed on colored paper would affect math test scores.

I became interested in this idea because I usually take tests on white paper and I wondered if my scores would increase or decrease on colored paper.

The information gained from this experiment would help teachers with their student’s academic scores.

Hypothesis

My hypothesis was that subjects taking tests on colored paper would actually have lower scores rather than tests taken on white paper. 

I based my hypothesis on the research by Glen Gummess who stated, ”The use of color coding inhibits rather than improves learning.”

Experimental Design

The constants in this study were:
* Number of girls
* Number of boys
* Amount of space between desks
* Number of problems on test
* Amount of light
* Amount of time
* Difficulty of test items

The manipulated variable was the color of paper that the test was taken on.

The responding variable was the score on the test.

To measure the responding variable I counted the number of correct math problems. 

Materials
 
 

QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
20 7th grade students
20 tests printed on bright colored paper
20 tests printed on white paper
40 pencils
20 desks
20 chairs
1 stopwatch

Procedures

1. Obtain subjects using permission slips
2. Assign subjects into four groups
3. Create a copy of test on colored paper and white.
4. Take 20 students to start testing on.
5. Explain to the 20 students in session 1 the quiz.
6. Pass out a pencil and the correct quiz to each student.
7. Tell the students to start.
8. Give the students 10 minutes to complete the quiz on the right color of paper.
9. After the 10 minutes is up tell the students to stop. Pick up the quiz and give them a 
  40 minute break to return to their classroom.
10. Repeat steps 4-8 with the same students on the opposite quiz and let them go back to 
  class.

Results

 The original purpose of this experiment was to determine if tests printed on colored paper or white would affect math scores.

The results of the experiment were that white paper worked better rather than colored paper.

See the table and graph below.

Conclusion

My hypothesis was that white paper would do better.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be accepted.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if the tests on colored paper would be more affective towards second graders.

If I were to conduct this project again I would used more colors to see if one was more effective than the others.


 
RESEARCH REPORT

Introduction
Memory means to store information in the brain. Learning would be impossible if we were not able to remember anything, we would forget something as soon as we learned it. 

Storing Memories 
Storing memories involves chemical changes. In the brain substances carry messages in tiny gaps between nerve cells, the gaps are called synapses.

Memory System
There are three types of memory. There are sensory memory, short term, and long-term memory.

Sensory memory holds information for a couple of seconds. For example you look at a picture and the exact picture image is in your head then it quickly fades away unless you think about it.

Short-term memory contains actively thought about information at any time. It holds facts as long as it is thought about. For example when looking up a telephone number in the phone book and repeating it until dialed the number quickly fades after about 20 to 30 seconds.

Long-term memory stores facts, ideas, and experiences after you have stopped thinking about it. Our conscious processes the information. For example when you think or solve problems that involves short-term memory along with long-term memory.  

Measuring Memory
There are many methods to measure memory, these methods are recall, recognition, and relearning. Recall is like making a list from memory. Recognition is to perform better with multiple choice than essay questions. Relearning is memorizing something after forgetting, you relearn information faster than the first time.

Inference
Remembering learned material blocks memory of other learned material. Something that changes is difficult to remember, but something old about the change would keep coming to your mind.

Retrieval Failure
Retrieval failure is not having the ability to recall information that has been stored in memory. When we forget something on the tip of our tongue it’s called retrieval failure, which means temporary loss.

Motivated Forgetting
Motivated forgetting is when people want to forget something. There are two kinds of motivated forgetting, suppression and repression. Suppression is when you consciously try to forget a memory. Repression is when you unconsciously try to forget memory.

Constructive Process
Constructive process involves creation of false memories. if you tried to remember an event that happened years ago you would only recall a few facts. Using the facts you might fill in gaps with details that seem to make sense. 

Psychology 
 Psychology is the scientific study of the mental process and behavior. Psychology observes how people and animals relate. It also explores a variety of questions about thoughts, feelings, and actions.

How We See
Eyes distinguish about ten million colors. Earth is lit up by the sunlight. White light from the sun is made up of different colors in the rainbow.

Color and Eye Vision
Our eyeball is filled with transparent liquid. Its lenses uses refraction to focus light that enters the eye on the retina at the back of the eyeball. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that is sensitive to light and it contains a network of nerve cells. Without any color three types of tiny cones are on the surface of the retina. These give us color vision in the brighter light. The retina is lined with tiny cells called rods. Rods are sensitive to light and it lets us see very dim light. On the eye there are more than 100 million rods.
 The optic nerve carries information from nerve cells to the brain. The colored part of the eye is called an iris. The center of the iris is called the pupil. The pupil opens up to dim light and closes to bright light to adjust the amount of light entering the eye. 

Summary
Our eyes and brain are a big part in our everyday life. Our eyes help us see, and our brain helps us remember.
 

Bibliograghy

Gummess, Glen. “The Use of Color in Teaching and Learning.” http://www.stfrancis.edu/cid/Colors/color1.htm

Maas, B. James “psychology” World Book Encyclopedia 1999 pg.847

“Memory”  World Book Encyclopedia 1999pg.392,393

Nassau, Kurt Experimenting with Colors 1997 pg.89,45,46 

Smith, William “Perception” World Book Encyclopedia 1999 pg.282

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
* My parents for always believing me and giving me full support.

* Mr. Newkirk for giving me advise and for helping me make my project the best it can be.

* Mrs. Helms for helping me on the computers.

* My subjects for helping me gather the data for my science experiment.

* Also Mrs. Long for letting her students participate in my study.
 

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