The Effects of Color on Perception of the World
Piedmont Governor’s School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology
2022
Abstract
Colors can be found everywhere throughout our world and can affect our perception. Previous studies show that colors have associations and affect us mentally. This study investigated the specific associations between colors and different emotions to help understand how the world is processed. I altered the prominent color of an artwork of an abstract sunset to three different variations, black and white, yellow, and blue. I assigned one of the variations to participants randomly. I then gave a color blindness test and a four-part survey addressing the sorrowful, passionate, joyful, and angry emotional connection of the image to 15 participants and tested the results using a chi-squared test of independence. My results were insignificant at a 95% confidence level with p-values of 0.0775, 0.679, 0.065, and 0.452 for the sorrowful, passionate, joyful, and anger statements respectively. The lack of participation hindered this study greatly and future research should improve that aspect. Along with participation, image subject should be reconsidered as well. I used an image of a sunset, but further testing on the association of colors with emotions should be done with an emotionally neutral image subject, which sunsets are not. Overall, my study demonstrated there is a possible connection between emotions and colors that should be more rigorously tested.
Colors can be found everywhere throughout our world and can affect our perception. Previous studies show that colors have associations and affect us mentally. This study investigated the specific associations between colors and different emotions to help understand how the world is processed. I altered the prominent color of an artwork of an abstract sunset to three different variations, black and white, yellow, and blue. I assigned one of the variations to participants randomly. I then gave a color blindness test and a four-part survey addressing the sorrowful, passionate, joyful, and angry emotional connection of the image to 15 participants and tested the results using a chi-squared test of independence. My results were insignificant at a 95% confidence level with p-values of 0.0775, 0.679, 0.065, and 0.452 for the sorrowful, passionate, joyful, and anger statements respectively. The lack of participation hindered this study greatly and future research should improve that aspect. Along with participation, image subject should be reconsidered as well. I used an image of a sunset, but further testing on the association of colors with emotions should be done with an emotionally neutral image subject, which sunsets are not. Overall, my study demonstrated there is a possible connection between emotions and colors that should be more rigorously tested.
Keywords: colors, emotions, blue, yellow, color and emotion association, perception
Summary
This study explored the relationship between color and emotional perception, investigating how different colors influence viewers' emotional responses to visual content. I modified an abstract sunset image intro three variations: monochromatic, yellow-dominant, and blue-dominant, then analyzed participants' responses across four emotions: sorrow, passion, joy, and anger.
Methodology
To investigate the relationship between color and emotional perception, I designed a quantitative study using controlled visual stimuli and standardized survey instruments.
The study population initially consisted of 18 students from my high school, but after the color blindness screening only 15 were eligible. All participants completed informed consent forms and demographic data collection was optional.
The data collection process involved random assignment of participants to one of three image groups, followed by a survey using a 5-point Likert scale to measure emotional responses across the emotions: sorrowful, passionate, joyful, and angry.
For data analysis, chi-squared tests of independence were used to evaluate the relationship between color variations and emotional responses. This statistical approach allowed for examination of potential correlations while accounting for the study's categorical variables and sample size. Testing was conducted at a 95% confidence level to ensure robust statistical evaluation.
Key Findings
The study revealed possible trends in color-emotion associations, particularly between blue/yellow tones with sorrow/joy responses. The results fell just short of statistical significance at the 95% confidence level. While the associations were not proven in this study, the data suggests promising directions for future research in color psychology and its applications.