Abstract
In the present study, we tested the effectiveness of color coding on the programming learning of students who were learning from video lectures. Effectiveness was measured using multimodal physiological measures, combining eye tracking and electroencephalography (EEG). Using a between-subjects design, 42 university students were randomly assigned to two video lecture conditions (color-coded vs. grayscale). The participants’ eye tracking and EEG signals were recorded while watching the assigned video, and their learning performance was subsequently assessed. The results showed that the color-coded design was more beneficial than the grayscale design, as indicated by smaller pupil diameter, shorter fixation duration, higher EEG theta and alpha band power, lower EEG cognitive load, and better learning performance. The present findings have practical implications for designing slide-based programming learning video lectures; slides should highlight the format of the program code using color coding.
Highlights
Each object has its own color, be it a color such as red, green, or blue, or be it colorless
The results suggest that compared to participants who watched color-coded video lectures, the participants who watched grayscale video lectures had a heavier mental load
Our findings are in line with those of a previous study on the color coding effect (Ozcelik et al, 2009; Stark et al, 2018)
Summary
Each object has its own color, be it a color such as red, green, or blue, or be it colorless (i.e., white, black, or gray). A considerable amount of scientific research on color psychology has been conducted on all aspects of color. The theoretical basis of color and psychological functioning is based on the physiological model proposed by Goldstein (1942). Goldstein discussed that color naturally causes physiological reactions that manifest in emotional experience, cognitive focus, and motor behavior. Color carries a psychologically relevant meaning, and the colors seen influence psychological functioning (Elliot and Maier, 2012). Red is related to happiness and facilitates non-systematic cognitive processing (Soldat et al, 1997). Color can be regarded as a type of non-content visual stimulus
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