Effectiveness of Color Therapy on Short-Term Information Retention among Students

Abstract

Color is a visual stimulus that can influence cognitive processes, including attention and memory. The use of color in learning media has been demonstrated to increase focus and information retention, but empirical research on nursing students in Indonesia remains limited. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of color therapy in enhancing short-term information retention among students. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design. A total of 126 students were randomly divided into an experimental group (colored learning materials: red, yellow, blue) and a control group (black-and-white materials). The retention test consisted of 20 multiple-choice questions with a reliability of Cronbach’s α = 0.84. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD post hoc tests with SPSS 27. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d and η². Results: The experimental group exhibited a significantly greater increase in retention scores compared to the control group (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.86). The color red yielded the highest retention score (mean = 78.21 ± 7.1) compared to yellow and blue (p = 0.045; η² = 0.06). Tukey post hoc analysis indicated a significant difference between the red and blue conditions (p = 0.025). Conclusion: Color therapy, especially the color red, proved effective in improving short-term information retention. Implementing color-based instructional media is recommended in visual learning to enhance students’ cognitive function.