A Psychometric Approach to the Measurement of Color Preference

Abstract

A three-part investigation was conducted to explore the meaning of color preferences. Phase 1 used a Q-sort technique to assess intra-individual stability of preferences over 5 wk. Phase 2 used principal components analysis to discern the manner in which preferences were being made. Phase 3 used canonical correlation to evaluate a hypothesized relationship between color preferences and personality, with five scales of the Personality Research Form serving as the criterion measure. Munsell standard papers, a standard light source, and a color vision test were among control devices applied. There were marked differences in stability of color preferences. Sex differences in intra-individual stability were also apparent among the 90 subjects. An interaction of hue and lightness appeared to underlie such judgments when saturation was kept constant. An unexpected breakdown in control pointed toward the possibly powerful effect of surface finish upon color preference. No relationship to five manifest needs were found. It was concluded that the beginning steps had been undertaken toward psychometric development of a reliable technique for the measurement of color preference.

The effects of different drawing materials on children’s drawings of positive and negative human figures

“…The order of colour preference was unsurprisingly broadly unaffected by drawing material, and children's order of colour preference followed the same general trend as with the control group (SC) and previous results (Burkitt et al, 2003b(Burkitt et al, , 2004Burkitt & Newell, 2005;Gelineau, 1981;Nelson et al, 1971), with primary colours rated most positively, followed by secondary colours and the achromatic range respectively. It appears that colour use is less affected by variations of drawing material than drawing size.…”

Comparing two image research instruments: The Q-sort method versus the Likert attitude questionnaire

“…This study does not address the reliability of the Q-sort method. But several researchers have investigated the consistent ordering of statements on different occasions and they all reported acceptable to high correlations (Brown, 1980;Fairweather, 1981;Gelineau, 1981;Pease, Boger, Melby, Pfaff, & Wolins, 1989;Steller & Meurer, 1974;Treadwell & Harrison, 1994). A recent study on the test-retest reliability of the factors found in a Q-sort instrument for attitude measurement led to the conclusion that the factors found were reliable over time (Prasad, 2001).…”

“…Any set of items that can be meaningfully evaluated may be used (Schlinger, 1969). Respondents may, for example, be asked to sort photographs (Fairweather & Swaffield, 2002), product names (Fyock et al, 2001) or colored papers (Gelineau, 1981). The corresponding distribution scales may range from like to dislike, from best label to worst label, or between opposite mood adjectives.…”

Cloth Color Preference Under the Influences of Body Heating Due to Hot Bath Immersion.

“…Although some studies are available on color preference in terms of social psychology (Gelineau, 1981;Hafner and Corotto, 1980;Schuschke and Christiansen, 1994;Trinkaus, 1991), they are far from systematic in understanding on the basis of human physiology. There are some papers dealing with the relationship between thermal sensation and color perception.…”