"e For seven of the ninety catchwords (8%), there was a prefence for two or
ne three colours, i.e. between 25 and 45 percent of the participants crossed-off one
ln specific colour, and at least one other specific colour was crossed-off by 20 to 25
per cent of the participants. With the exception of the catchword 'mountains', all
others represented abstract concepts.
11T F or nineteen of the ninety catchwords (21%), there was a clear preference for two
in" or three colours, i.e. two or three colours were crossed-off each by between 25 and 45
per cent of the participants. Half of these catchwords represented concrete concepts.
er For fifteen of the ninety catchwords (17%) there was a definite preference, but no
a absolute majority, for one particular colour, i.e. between 25 and 45 participants
as crossed-off this colour, while no other colour was crossed-off by more than 20 per
'y cent of the participants. Except for the catchwords 'volcano' and 'fruit' all others
vs represented abstract concepts.
For thirty three of the ninety catchwords (37%) there was a definite preference for
one particular colour by more than 45 per cent of the participants. In two thirds of
the cases concrete concept catchwords were involved.
4B. Comparison between catchword and lack of colour preference (blanks)
The number of possible answers was 736 x 90 66 240 In a total of 1 307 cases,
(702 for male participants and 605 for female ones), no association between
catchword and the ten colours from which one could choose was found. Expressed in
percentages, this is 2.03 per cent of the possible number of answers from males and
1.19 per cent of the possible answers from the females. These 'blanks' appeared to be
strongly concentrated around certain catchwords. For the following catchwords,
approximately 5 percent of the male as well as the female participants could not
it produce any colour association: Protestant wind near low commuter -
1- restless.
4C. Comparison between colour choice for male and female
From the literature about colour research by psychologists in the Netherlands1 it
had already become evident to us that there was no significant difference between
males and females in the matter of colour association.
The results of this inquiry confirm it. Summarizing the number of cases where
certain colours were crossed-off, and Converting these to percentages, it appears, even
without the X2 test, that there is hardly any difference in colour choice between males
and females (See table 3).
Table 3. Difference in colour choice between male and female
black blue brown yellow
green grey orange purplered white not
filled-
out
Male 3092 3617 3476
8.92 10.44 10.03
3359
9.69
4444 5824 1711
12.83 16.81 4.94
1598 3137 3690 702
4.61 9.05 10.65 2.03
Female
7.71 10.73 10.10
2436 3390 3192
9.72
3069
12.94 17.74 5.16
4086 5609 1629
4.49 9.24 10.26 1.91
1419 2919 3240 605
K.N.A.G. Geograßsch Tijdschrift VI (1972) Nr. 3
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