Effects of Colored Words on Memory Retention

Effects of Colored Words on Memory Retention

Color seems to have an impact in our everyday lives. Memory color is a phenomenon in which an object's characteristic color enhances our memory retention. The objective of the present study is to examine which color can best facilitate memory retention. A sample of 30 participants (15 males and 15 females) were recruited from Nova Southeastern University. The participants were tested on their ability to recall a list of 20 words in the colors blue, green, orange, and red. Participants were also tested to determine what color they would be able to best recall. The list of 20 words included 5 words in each color. Participants were shown the list of words for 45 seconds and asked to write down as many words as they could recall within a minute. Results revealed that participants recalled significantly more words in the color orange compared to the other three colors. The color orange can be used in printed material to facilitate memory retention for students and individuals in other professions where high memory retention is critical for success.