Affiliations: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of
Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan | Department of Psychology, Municipal Wan Fang Hospital,
Taipei City, Taiwan | Department of Business Administration, College of
Management, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Rong-Hwa Huang, Department of business
administration, College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University. 510,
Zhongzheng Rd., Xinzhuang Area, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2
29053408; Fax: +886 2 29046743; E-mail: 026299@mail.fju.edu.tw
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Many professional workers such as engineers and
designers must read and comprehend graphics in the workplace. Many studies have
analyzed the effects of background color when reading text, but few have
studied its effects when reading graphics. OBJECTIVE: This study examines how different screen polarities and
background colors can influence the reading and comprehension of graphics. PARTICIPANTS: 504 participants were selected by convenience sampling
and divided into 14 groups. The experiment was performed in three parts. Parts
1 had 2 groups; Parts 2 had 6 groups; Parts 3 had 6 groups. Each group had 36
participants. METHODS: In each of the three parts of this study, a combination of
black and white graphics was used as a background. Three experiments were
performed. Color was the independent variable; accuracy in
reading/comprehending graphics was the dependent variable. RESULTS: Experiment One showed that test participants performed
better in positive (black on white) graphics test than in negative (white on
black) graphics test on the computer screen. Experiment Two showed that screen
background colors also significantly affect the accuracy of graphics
reading/comprehension on the computer screen. Experiment Three showed that
performance improved when the color of the computer screen polarity was
adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: Screen polarity can affect the accuracy of graphics
reading/comprehension; screen background color affects the accuracy of graphics
reading/comprehension; adequate background color as a contrast increases
experiments the accuracy of graphics reading/comprehension.
