to 20 per/cent in the scores for certain colours between students and the remain-
der of the occupational levels. A third of the catchwords were used. The reason
for this result could not be determined. We assume that it is the difference in age, the
influence of which we have been searching for in vain under 4D.
4F. Remarks about the results of the inquiry
We have encountered a clear preference for one definite colour for 54 percent of the
catchwords. For 29 percent of the catchwords there was a preference for two or three
colours and for 17 percent there was no preference for a specific colour. For half of those
catchwords, where there was a large concentration of 'blanks', there also was no
definite preference for a specific colour.
Of the many factors which could influence an inquiry about colour, only age and
sex could be examined well. Sex difference did not appear to coincide with differences
in preference. Difference in age, at least with the analyzing-method used, hardly
provided a difference in colour choice. Other aspects of the participant which were not
examined are the type of person, educational background and personal development.
5.APPLICATION TO CARTOGRAPHY OF THE RESULTING INFORMATION
One Observation should be made here at the outset. The results found can only be
of value to cartographic products directed towards Dutch consumption, because one
has to accept that the preference for certain colours differ from country to country.
When summarizing from fig. 2 the number of times a certain colour was chosen, a
preference for cool and sombre tints is evident. A histogram of an entirely different
nature would probably have been the result of a similar inquiry in another country.
After we found the specific colours assigned to the specific catchwords we were
wondering whether we were justified to turn around our reasoning. I.e. does one think
about a certain catchword when one sees a certain colour on a map?
It was evident to us that psychological research dealing with colour uses this
technique.
The use of a specific colour for a specific phenomenon on a map does not
necessarily mean that that colour is experienced as such, because with small colour
areas the influence on the viewer of larger surrounding colour areas is great. This
black blue brown yellow green grey orange purple red white
Fig. 2. Weighted choice preference.
A weighting value of one unit is given when between 20 and 45 per cent of the participants
preferred one colour above all others per catchword. A weighting value of two Units is given when
more than 45 per cent of the participants preferred one colour above all others per catchword.
K.N.A.G. Gengrafisch Tijdschrifi Vl (1972) Nr. 3
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