Comparison of the effects between white and blue backgrounds on Web-Based English listening tests

Abstract

Results of our previous studies on the background colors of on-line tests show that a white background may not be preferable for Web-based tests (WBTs) when the text is in black. In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of white and blue backgrounds on the scores of Web-based English listening tests. We also examined how the background colors can affect the functions of learners' brains by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Thirty three subjects in their twenties took Web-based English listening and non-linguistic tests with white and blue background colors with black text. The results showed a slight difference between both backgrounds in terms of the average scores of the linguistic and non-linguistic tests. However, NIRS observations indicated that subjects' brain areas associated with language processing had been less active when they were answering the questions with white background.