Color, dispersion, and exposure time in performance on rotated figure recognition

This study investigated the effects of dispersion, color, and rotation of figures on recognition under varied exposure times. A total of 30 women and 15 men, Taiwanese college students ages 18 to 20 years (M = 19.1, SD = 1.2), participated. Subjects were to recognize a target figure and respond with its location in each stimulus by pressing a mouse button. Analysis showed that the effect of rotation on accuracy was significant. Accuracy for the rotation of 180 degrees was greater than those for 60 degrees and 300 degrees. Exposure time also significantly influenced accuracy. The accuracy was greater for 2 and 3 sec. than for 1 sec. No significant effects on accuracy were associated with dispersion and color, and neither had any interactive effect on accuracy. Dispersion significantly affected the response time as response time for dispersion under 0.4 and 0.5 conditions were shorter than those under 0.2 and 0.3 conditions. Significantly less response time was needed for rotation of 180 degrees than for 60 degrees and 300 degrees conditions. Response time was longer for red figures than for blue, green, and yellow figures. No significant effect on response time was associated with duration of exposure. Two interactive two-way effects were found: dispersion x color of figure and dispersion x rotation. Implications for figure or icon design are discussed.