A study of the interrelationships among artistic ability, sensitivity to colour, and aesthetic interest in everyday objects.
Date
1971
Authors
Spencer, Henry Lee
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Abstract
This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that artistic ability is positively related to sensitivity to colour and aesthetic interest in everyday objects. Empirical evidence of the degrees of relationship was sought as a contribution to the understanding of the complex nature of artistic aptitude.
The subjects were 100 ninth-and tenth-grade students enrolled in art courses at two junior secondary schools in Cowichan, British Columbia. Individual artistic ability was measured by the Maitland Graves Design Judgment Test; sensitivity to colour by a test especially developed for the purpose by the investigator; and aesthetic interest in everyday objects by Leijonhielm's Interest Questionnaire No. 2.
Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were computed for each of the three relationships: (1) artistic ability - sensitivity to colour; (2) artistic ability - aesthetic interest in everyday objects; (3) sensitivity to colour - aesthetic interest in everyday objects. A significant, but low, relationship was found between the criterion variable (Maitland Graves Design Judgement Test) and sensitivity to colour; between the criterion variables and aesthetic interest in everyday objects; and between sensitivity to colour and aesthetic interest in everyday objects.
A multiple correlation coefficient was also computed to determine the relationship between the criterion variable and the other two variables of sensitivity to colour and aesthetic interest in everyday objects, taken together as predictor variables. A significant, but low, relationship was found.
The experimental findings are discussed in terms of the instruments of measurement and in terms of possible implications for further research.