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Color Me Productive
sartin writes "Forget the saturated colors from The Andromeda Strain lab, researchers at The University of Texas report how color affects productivity. The results have some expected (different things work for different people) and some surprising (bright red is very good for some people) tidbits. At long last, I have scientific proof that the taupe and beige on my cubical wall are not the best colors for my productivity."
We have known for a long time that, red, and the combonation of yellow / black has been a warning sign.
We also know that some people react better in stressful situations.
Has anyone tested to see if the same people that react well in stressful situations are more (or less) effected by these color schemes?
I know the artical says "different people", but im wondering on a indivual basis, if this holds true in the other sense.
I.e. Does a person who will stand and fight, match with the same colour scheme as someone else who stands and fights, or does the "way" your mind interpets colours change indenpently of this?
- http://www.milkme.co.uk
The Hawthorne study is so tainted with problems it's hard to set up a study any worse. On the other hand, the researcher, who the statistical geniuses of NASA consult, set up a correct study. The problem with the Hawthorne study is that they had little to really compare against. They were only comparing two groups, and measuring if productivity went up, and not by what percentage.
An article like "color me productive" that doesn't mention the Hawthorne effect and explain why they don't think this is just more of the same... is garbage.
No, you're comparing apples and oranges.
The researcher did it very differently. Better setup, many more groups, and accurate measurement of productivity changes. This allows for effective comparison. The researcher can validly ask things like "How much more did red groups work than blue, green, yellow, and purple groups?"
Furthermore, any study that doesn't compare the relative effects of: spending money on painting the walls red; spending the same money on alternative improvements (bigger cubicles, better chairs, quieter rooms, better lighting); spending the same money on raises... is garbage.
What? You're just a cynical thinks-they-know-it-all.
This survey is very useful and desired, (unless you think the NASA folks are idiots). This study's stated goal was to see how colors effect productivity. Your stated goal for a study is also valid, but completely different...you want combine monetary costs and see what is most effective for real world business application.