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The effect of colour on children's cognitive performance
Alice Brooker1, Anna Franklin1
1University of Sussex, UK.
The British Journal of Educational Psychology
|December 25, 2015
Summary
Red colour impairs cognitive performance in children, similar to adults. This study explored colour's impact on 8- and 9-year-olds' cognitive tasks, finding red significantly hinders performance.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- Previous research indicates that the colour red can negatively impact adult cognitive performance.
- The current study extends this line of inquiry to a younger demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of colour, specifically red, on the cognitive performance of 8- and 9-year-old children.
- To determine if the detrimental effects of red observed in adults are also present in children.
Main Methods:
- Children completed a series of cognitive tasks under different coloured screen conditions (eight colours plus grey).
- Performance was measured relative to a neutral grey baseline for each colour condition.
- Statistical analyses compared performance across all colours and against the grey baseline.
Main Results:
- A significant difference in cognitive performance was observed across the different colours.
- Performance was significantly worse when children were exposed to a red screen compared to a grey screen.
- The impact of colour on performance did not significantly vary depending on the specific cognitive task.
Conclusions:
- Colour can influence children's cognitive performance, with red having a detrimental effect.
- These findings align with existing adult literature and suggest potential implications for educational settings.
- The study highlights the importance of considering environmental colour stimuli in children's learning and cognitive development.
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