THE PERCEIVED HAZARDOUSNESS, URGENCY AND ATTENTION-GETTINGNESS OF FLUORESCENT AND NON-FLUORESCENT COLOURS

摘要

Research has demonstrated the value of fluorescence in improving conspicuity, but there is little information on its perceived characteristics. Experiment 1 used 2 groups of 18 participants, one group rated fluorescent, the other non-fluorescent colours. Each participant rated red, orange, yellow or green, on a 9-point scale for the amount of hazard and urgency each indicated and how attention-getting each was. The results showed that the rank order of colours were in line with previous work, but there was no effect of fluorescence. In Experiment 2, 12 participants from Experiment 1 were used, but were asked to rate all eight colours. Here significantly higher ratings (p < 0.01) were given to fluorescent colours. In Experiment 3, new participants repeated Experiment 2 and the findings were replicated. These results suggest that fluorescent material has the potential benefit of giving emphasis to warning signs.