Pupil Tracking Reveals Why Color Coding Study Materials is a Good Idea

There are many different ways to learn. Some people are visual learners, while others retain information better when it is presented audibly. In a classroom setting, there are a variety of methods for delivering information and a combination of these typically used to cater to the students’ range of learning styles. Research has been conducted to discover approaches to presenting information that facilitate learning and increase knowledge retention. For instance, a study done in 1990 demonstrated that learning is enhanced when text is accompanied by illustrations. In 1999, further research discovered that students who studied color coded material scored higher on multiple choice tests than those who studied conventional, black and white formats. A more recent study, published in March 2009 by a group of Turkish scientists, sought to uncover the underlying cause for the effectiveness of color coded learning materials. Entitled “An eye tracking study of how color coding affects multimedia learning,” the study took advantage of recent advancements in eye tracking technology that have given researchers the ability to take a more in-depth look at the learning process and how people intake new information.

Pupil tracking is the process of measuring eye movement and eye position relative to the head. Pupil tracking devices typically use micro-cameras to electronically monitor eye-lid and pupil activity, which can be used to detect exactly where someone is looking. Using this technology, the researchers were able to collect data on the ocular activity of the test subjects that would give them a better understanding of why color coded material is more effective than conventional formats. A sample of 52 undergraduate students were given either a color-coded or conventional study guide and then asked to complete a comprehension exam based on the material presented in the guide. The information in both formats was exactly the same, except the color-coded guide used color to identify key terms in the text that related to objects labeled in the same color in a pictorial diagram. The pupil tracking device was used to measure the number of times a person looked at a specific location in the material (the number of fixations) as well as the length of time any one location was looked at (duration of fixation).

The results revealed several underlying reasons for why color-coding enhances the learning process. Participants studying the color-coded material had fewer fixations, which meant they spent less time locating corresponding terms in the text and diagram when the terms were color-coded. The research suggests that learning may be impaired when there is a delay in processing corresponding words and pictures. The color-coding signified important information, and the proximity of the text to the picture diagram enabled the student to easily identify the key term in either location and relate it to the corresponding location.

Eye tracking also revealed that students with the color-coded materials had a higher average fixation duration. Fixation duration was shown to be an indicator of the amount of cognitive processing devoted to the information. Because those with color-coded information spent less time locating corresponding terms, they were able to engage in deeper processing needed for meaningful learning. According to the findings in this study, it would be a good idea to add a little color next time you are studying for an exam.

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