Colour preferences according to educational background

Abstract

This study investigated differences in colour preferences associated with academic field of study. This is because it is believed that educational background has an impact on personality traits affecting individual choices including colour preferences. A questionnaire was collected from 80 participants including students at graphic design and information technology departments at first and final years of study. Subjects were asked to choose the most preferred colour for clothing and living room. "Blue" was the most preferred colour for clothing by 15% of the total subjects. Colour preferences were not related to education concerning the clothing in all cases including students from first and final levels in graphic design and information technology departments. However, "White" was found the most preferred colour by 35% of total subjects. There were found significant relationships between educational background and colour preferences for living room. This relationship was investigated for final year students of graphic design and information technology chi(2) = 21.7; p=0.003; alpha=0.05, and for graphic design students from first and final years, the value of chi-square equals 14.5 which was significant at the 5% level p=0.02. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd