COLEGIO DE SAN LORENZO

Congressional Avenue, Brgy. Bahay Toro

College of Arts and Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

THE EFFECTS OF COLORED IMAGE ON SHORT-TERM VISUAL MEMORY RECALL OF THIRD

YEAR TOURISM STUDENTS OF COLEGIO DE SAN LORENZO

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree in

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Presented by

Team Power

3PSY-A

Rey, Janina Kristine M.

Reyes, Kyle Danielle F.

Macaya, Angelica Marie S.

Samson, Brien Gabrielle

Tolentino, Anne-Jayzel S.

August 2017

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 Table of Contents

I. Introduction

A. Background of the Study .

B. Statement of the Problem .

C. Research Objectives ..

D. Significance of the Study

E. Hypothesis ...

F. Review of Related Literature ....

G. Research Gap .

H. Theoretical Framework ..

I. Conceptual Framework ..

J. Operational Framework ....

K. Operational Definition of Terms ..

II. METHODOLOGY

A. Research Design ...

B. Variables and Measure.....

C. Participants ..

D. Stimuli / Instruments ....

E. Procedure ........

F. Data Analysis ..

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I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the study

Today, one of the most prominent ways of delivering a lesson or discussing in

class is by means of PowerPoint presentation. It is fast, efficient, and it can be very

diverse, sometimes even incorporating pictures, charts, and even videos. However, it is

sometimes hard to grasp the essence of the image if it is in black and white. This led to

the formulation of a study prepared by the researchers with the goal of determining

whether it is more easy to recall visual memory if the images are delivered in color or in

monochrome.

Psychologists have found that colors enhance an individuals visual memory.

From a series of experiments, researchers learned that subjects were more likely to

recall the color version of an image than the same scene in black and white. They believe

color has a stronger appeal to the senses, prompting a better connection to parts of the

brain involved with memory (Mone, 2002)

Color is believed to be the most important visual experience to human beings. It

functions as a powerful information channel to human cognitive system and has been

found to play a significant role enhancing memory performance (Dzulkifli, Mustafar,

2013).

Color is used almost universally in the production of instructional materials,

pictures, and video programs. Printed instructional materials and computer assisted

instructions are almost always produced in color. Whether it is on a computer screen, in

print form or even paint on a class room wall, color affects a students ability to learn.

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Choosing an appropriate color for any PowerPoint presentation or any tutorial is a cause

of learning. (Nazarro, 2008)

In the educational setting, higher demand is put on excellent academic

achievement. The extent to which students utilize their cognitive abilities is also

important and may contribute to better academic achievement. The cognitive abilities of

the students refer to how the students perceive, pay attention, remember, think, and

understand the lessons. There need to be strategies to facilitate the learning process and

colors can play a role in motivating students to learn and profit from their educational

experiences. ( Dzulkifli , Mustafar, 2013).

Colors can be very effective tool. Sometimes students used highlighters of

different colors in marking important terms or words in their notes or books so that they

will remember it when reviewing their lessons. It is the same on how color attracts their

attention. Colors do catch attention so it will really be a big help to anyone to use colors

in anything they do.

The researchers chose this topic because they want to know if color could really

enhance the short-term memory of the students. Through this study, it will benefit the

future researchers who would like to further conduct a research about this topic.

B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine if colored image has a significant effect on short-

term visual memory recall of Third year Tourism students of Colegio de San Lorenzo.

For this reason, the researchers were led to seek the answer to the following questions:

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Main Research Question

Is there a significant effect of colored image on short-term visual memory recall

of Third year Tourism student of Colegio de San Lorenzo?

Sub Question

1. What are the effects of colored image on short-term visual memory recall of

Third year Tourism students of Colegio de San Lorenzo?

2. Is there a difference on the result of short-term visual memory recall

between groups with colored image compared to the group with non-colored

image?

3. Does color enhances short-term visual memory recall of the students?

C. Research Objectives

The researchers aim to determine the effects of colored and non-colored images

on Short Term Visual Memory Recall of Third year Tourism students of Colegio De San

Lorenzo. More specifically, the researchers aim to:

Main Research Objective

To determine if there is a significant effect of colored image on short-term visual

memory recall of Third year Tourism students of Colegio De San Lorenzo.

Sub Research Objectives

1. To determine the effects of colored image on short-term visual memory recall

of Third year Tourism students of Colegio de San Lorenzo.

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 2. To compare if there is a difference on the result of short-term visual memory

recall between a groups with colored image compared to the group with non-

colored image.

3. To prove if the color enhances short-term visual memory recall of the

students.

D. Significance of the Study

The experiment that the researchers carried out aims to determine the

effectiveness of the real world applications of using colored images, primarily in the

educational setting, for teachers to determine whether it is more effective to use colored

presentations so that the students memory recall of the lessons may be improved, and

for those individuals who are also interested in tackling the mentioned topic.

E. Hypothesis

The researchers have formulated the following hypotheses.

Null Hypothesis:

There is no significant effect of colored image on short-term visual memory recall

of Third year Tourism of Colegio De San Lorenzo.

Alternative Hypothesis:

There is a significant effect of colored image on short-term visual memory recall

of Third year Tourism of Colegio De San Lorenzo.

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F. Review of Related Literature

Foreign Literature

The study of Singg and Mull sought to examine whether the color of the paper

had an effect to the information retention of college students by measuring the number

of words recalled. The ANOVA results of this experiment showed that there is a

significant interaction between the paper color and sex with regard to word recall. They

concluded that the background color of an instructional material can be an impact to the

students performance positively but it still depends on their sex. Such as, the blue color,

which is a cool color, might enhance womens learning while the yellow color, which is a

warm color, might enhance mens learning. Research has said that the use of color

overlays to cover some word or the entire page of a reading material can help with the

reading speed and improves the concentration of children. It was also found that these

colored overlays reduce the symptoms of visual stress to students who wore glasses. On

the other hand, the research about the performance of college students on tests that

are printed in different color papers has also resulted to interesting, yet conflicting

results. Some results didnt have a significant effect and others did, but they seem to be

contradicting. The color of the paper that is being used as a reviewer or a test paper may

help the information retention of college students. But, according to this study, it still

depends on the gender. (Singg, Mull, 2017)

Burk, Johnson, Larson, Ellsworth, (2011) studied whether color has an effect on

the short-term memory. The experimenter used naturally colored images and

unnaturally colored images. The study showed that naturally colored images were easily

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remembered and recognized than unnaturally colored images. It proves that the color of

the objects significantly affects the visual short-term memory recall. In order for them to

remember the object it has to be presented in a way that can be easily recognize

because if not it might affect the ability of a persons mind to identify and memorize the

objects. The experimenter concluded that color plays an important role in object

identification and recall.

Dzulkifli, Mustafar (2013) the study shows the relationship between colors,

attention, and memory performance, on how color influence different settings. Several

studies on colors and memory explains some empirical works done in the area and

related issues that arise from such studies.

Memory refers to the mental process of encoding, retaining, and retrieving

environmental information. How the human cognitive system deals with the

memorization process remains the center of research among cognitive psychologists.

This study highlights the ways to enhance human memory performance.

The most important visual experience to human beings is believed to be color. It

plays as a powerful information channel to our human cognitive system and also plays

an important role in enhancing memory performance. This study shows the significance

of color in making the information or message attractive to the public.

According to the researchers, in clinical setting, there are specific interventions that

involves colors can be introduced to deal with memory-related problems which are

learning difficulty, dyslexia, and others. With the use of color in the intervention, it helps

the patients to follow and understand the learning program better. Patients with dyslexia

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using color have been proven to be the effective way in reducing patient difficulty in

reading. The same approach is also used as help for patients with autism. Improvement

of reading speed up to 35% was observed for autistic patients reading using colored

overlay. Color is also use to treat patients with Alzheimers disease. The said disease is a

neuro degenerative form of dementia which deteriorates memory abilities. Recently,

there is a growing interest in the role of the non-biological or environmental factors

associated with Alzheimer disease. Therefore, the use of colors in improving the

memory performance can be practiced. In fact, the study highlights that vivid color cues

can help to enhance the short-term memory performance of such diseases.

To summarize it all, an important aspect in successful and efficient cognitive functioning

is the abilities to utilize the system to the fullest. Research on memory has provided a

vast strategy that can be used to ensure successful retrieval. The choice of colors and

other manipulative aspects can, however, influence the extent to which colors can

influence human memory performance.(Dzulkifli, Mustafar, 2013)

Local Literature

This researchs aim to know whether color has an effect to the memory. The

researcher used two treatment conditions and controlled condition. Wherein, treatment

number 1 is with words in colored ink, and treatment number 2 is in black ink words

with colored picture above. The controlled treatment is in black ink words only.

According to the results, the group has a higher score on the pre-test while the

treatment 1 had a higher score on the post-test. This proves that color has a significant

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effect on the memory. Because it helps us to recognize a significant stimuli, which is the

color, that allows us to remember significant word. (Etulle, et al. 2014).

G. Research Gap

H. Theoretical Framework
Figure 1

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 Working Memory Model (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974)

Visuo-spatial scratch pad

Sensory Attention Long-Term

Inpu Central
Memory Memory
t Executive

Decay
Phonological Loop

Articulatory Control

Phonological Store

Working Memory Model. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) developed the working

memory model, which focuses specifically on the workings of short-term memory. This is

a very influential theory of memory designed to account for how we temporarily

manipulate and store information during thinking and reasoning tasks (Henry, 2011).

The original model composed of three components, the phonological loop, the visuo-

spatial sketchpad, and the central executive.

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 The Central Executive is the most important component of the model. It is

responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operation of the slave systems which is

the phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketch pad and relates them to long term

memory. It is also the boss that decides which working memory pays attention to.

The phonological loop deals with spoken and written material. It has two parts,

the phonological store which is the inner ear and holds information in speech-based

form for 1-2 seconds. And the articulatory control process that acts like an inner voice

rehearsing information from the phonological store.

The visuo-spatial sketch pad which is the inner eye that deals with visual and

spatial information. It plays an important role in helping us keep track of where we are in

relation to other objects as we move through our environment (Baddeley, 1997).

I. Conceptual Framework

The study focused on the effects of colored images on short-term visual memory

recall of Third year Tourism students. Figure 2 below shows the relationship of the

Independent Variable (IV) and Dependent Variable (DV).

Figure 2

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 THE EFFECTS OF COLORED IMAGE ON SHORT-TERM MEMORY RECALL OF

THIRD YEAR TOURISM STUDENTS OF COLEGIO DE SAN LORENZO

Independent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV)

Image Memory Performance

Colored Image Short-Term Visual
Non-colored Memory Recall
Image

J. Operational Framework

To test the short-term visual memory recall of the third year tourism students of

Colegio de San Lorenzo. Shown in Figure 3 below, the researchers used the Classical

Experimental Pre-test and Post-test design to measure the effects or any changes of the

colored image on the short-term visual memory recall of the students. For the pre-test,

the participants both from the control group and the experimental group will be asked

to memorize non-colored images. While for the post-test, the participants for control

group will be asked to memorize non-colored images and for the experimental group the

researchers asked them to memorize the colored images to test if there is an effect of

colored and non-colored images.

Figure 3

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Pre-Test Post-Test

Control Group: Control Group:

Non- Non-
colored colored
Images Images

Memory Performance

Short-Term Visual
Memory Recall

Experimental Experimental
Group: Group:
Non- Colored
colored Images
Images

K. Operational Definition

Experimental Operational Definition (IV)

Colored Image a set of colored Images that is being flashed on the screen for 30

seconds.

Non-colored Image a set of non-colored Images that is being flashed on the screen for

30 seconds.

Measured Operational Definition (DV)

Short-term visual memory recall the ability of the students to recognize the images

stored in their mind for a short period of time and recalls it after the researchers signals

them to recall all the images we flashed on the TV screen.

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II. METHODOLOGY

A. Research Design

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 The researchers used the classical experimental pre-test and post-test design to

determine if the color literally affects the short-term memory or short-term visual

memory recall of the students of the 3rd year Tourism students of Colegio de San

Lorenzo.

B. Variables and Measures

Independent Variable (IV):

Colored Images students from the post-test experimental group will be asked to

participate to remember the colored images.

Non-colored Images students from the pre-test controlled and experimental group as

well the post-test controlled group participate to remember the non-colored images.

Dependent Variable (DV):

Short Term Visual Memory Recall to measure the ability of the students to recall the

items of colored and non-colored images.

C. Participants

The participants of the study are 3rd year Tourism students of Colegio de San

Lorenzo. The researchers will use the simple random sampling method in choosing the

participants for the control group and experimental group.

D. Stimuli / Research Instrument

The following are the materials of the researchers used in this study:

Letter for Office of Students Affairs A request letter for Office of Students

Affairs an approval to conduct a study inside the school and a permission to use

the classroom of Colegio De San Lorenzo.

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 Letter for Dean A letter of permission that we are going to conduct an

experiment to one section of their department.

Letter for the Professor A letter of permission that the researchers are going to

use the 30-45 mins of their time of his/her class to conduct an experiment to the

students.

Informed consent A consent letter for the students if they want to agree or not

to participate in the experiment.

Colored Images A set of colored images that has been validated by the

statistician.

Non-colored Images A set of non-colored images that has been validated by

the statistician.

LED TV A gadget that well be using in the experiment to show the Images.

Answer Sheet a piece of paper where the students will write their answers.

Token each student who participates in the experiment will be given a token or

candies at the end of the experiment.

E. Procedure

The researchers will conduct an experiment among the 3 rd year Tourism students

inside the vicinity of Colegio de San Lorenzo.

1. The researchers will submit a letter to different respective offices for approval to

conduct the said experiment within the college premises. After the letters had

been approved, the researchers will proceed with the experiment.

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 2. The participants will be divided into two groups which is the control group and

the experimental group using the simple random sampling. The researchers will

distribute a consent form to each participant stating that they are free to

withdraw on the experiment anytime they want.

3. The researchers will explain the instruction clearly. Once the control group has

settled, the participants will be presented with 20 non colored images that will

be flash on the screen. Their task is to memorize those non- colored images for

30 seconds. After that, the researchers will hand them a sheet of paper and will

ask them to list down all the images theyve remember. The other group which is

the experimental group will undergo on the same procedure to be conducted by

the researchers.

4. The next day, the post-test will be given. The procedure will be the same but the

only difference is that in the experimental group, researchers will present to

them 20 colored images for 30 seconds.

5. When the test was done, the researchers will explain the purpose and nature of

the study. The researchers will thank the participants and hand them tokens as a

sign of gratitude for participating in the study.

6. The researchers will check the papers and evaluate the results to know if theres

any changes occur between pre-test and post-test.

III. Results

A. Data

Control Group Experimental Group

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Table 1.1 Table 1.2

Output Pre-test Post-test

A 7 11
B 5 8
C 12 13
D 9 7
E 7 9
F 6 9
G 5 8
H 8 11
I 16 18
J 10 11
K 12 15
L 9 10
M 7 8
N 5 8
O 6 8
P 12 13
Q 14 11
R 13 14
S 8 13
T 4 8

B. Paired Related Samples

Control Group
Paired Samples Statistics
Mean N Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean

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 PretestCon 7.6000 20 3.53032 .78940
Pair 1
PosttestCon 8.5500 20 3.83165 .85678

Paired Samples Correlations

N Correlation Sig.

Pair 1 PretestCon & PosttestCon 20 .702 .001

Paired Samples Test

Paired Differences t df Sig. (2

tailed
Mean Std. Std. Error 95% Confidence
Deviation Mean Interval of the
Difference

Lower Upper

Pair PretestCon - -.9500

2.85574 .63856 -2.28653 .38653 -1.488 19 .1
1 PosttestCon 0

C. Demographics

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