TY - GEN
T1 - An analysis of background-color effects on the scores of a computer-based English test
AU - Yamazaki, Atsuko K.
PY - 2010/11/23
Y1 - 2010/11/23
N2 - The effects of background colors on the scores of a computer-based English test were analyzed. Eight combinations of black text and a background color were chosen to examine if test takers' scores differed, depending on the characteristics of a background color. Two hundred and forty six Japanese college students participated in the experiment. A computer-based test (CBT) that resembles the TOEIC® Test was used and the subjects, divided into eight groups, answered the same questions displayed on a background of eight different colors. The results showed that the subjects who took the test with light blue and blue background scored the highest and the second highest. Although many CBTs use the combination of a white background and black text, this combination was ranked the second worst. The results indicate that colors with higher values both in luminance and in brightness can cause lower performance, and test taker's color preference does not affect his performance.
AB - The effects of background colors on the scores of a computer-based English test were analyzed. Eight combinations of black text and a background color were chosen to examine if test takers' scores differed, depending on the characteristics of a background color. Two hundred and forty six Japanese college students participated in the experiment. A computer-based test (CBT) that resembles the TOEIC® Test was used and the subjects, divided into eight groups, answered the same questions displayed on a background of eight different colors. The results showed that the subjects who took the test with light blue and blue background scored the highest and the second highest. Although many CBTs use the combination of a white background and black text, this combination was ranked the second worst. The results indicate that colors with higher values both in luminance and in brightness can cause lower performance, and test taker's color preference does not affect his performance.
KW - background and text colors
KW - computer-based test
KW - test performance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78449247495&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1007/978-3-642-15390-7_65
DO - 10.1007/978-3-642-15390-7_65
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78449247495
SN - 3642153895
SN - 9783642153891
T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
SP - 630
EP - 636
BT - Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems - 14th International Conference, KES 2010, Proceedings
T2 - 14th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, KES 2010
Y2 - 8 September 2010 through 10 September 2010
ER -