University of Luzon

Perez blvd, Dagupan City

College of Liberal Arts

THE EFFECT OF TYPEFACE IN MEMORY RETENTION OF 2ND

YEAR EDUCATION STUDENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LUZON

RATIONALE

“Your choice of typeface is as important as what you do with it” -Bonnie Siegler, Students'

reading techniques such as active reading, visualizing, summarizing, and annotating. Regardless

of a reader's motive, better reading performance is beneficial to them in a way that it can improve

their vocabulary skills and enhance their critical thinking. This study supports the relevance of

small typographical modifications to text forms to an individual's ability to read faster, more

precisely, and with higher understanding. Typefaces such as bold text and normal text are the art

and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when

displayed.

Fonts play an important role in many aspects of communication, and their effects extend

beyond aesthetic appeal. In the digital age, where information is disseminated through various

mediums, the choice of font style can significantly impact how individuals perceive and retain

information. According to Kamya, L., (2023), the effects of various font alternations (such as size,

color contrast, and font type) on fluency and memory have varied in the fields of user experience

and user interface. While some studies have demonstrated that elements like size and color

contrast improve fluency and memory, other research has found that these elements must bear

whatsoever to a user’s fluency and memory. Bold text is a typographic word for a font of text that

is thicker and darker than normal text. It is frequently used to accent or highlight individual words,
 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts

phrases, or headers inside a text. While, Normal text types are neutral, meaning they are less

impacted by optical distortion or low sharpness. They have the most readable grapheme, so the

regular weight is ideal for reading. As education institutions continually strive to improve learning

outcomes, it becomes essential to understand the role of font style in memory retention.

In today's fast-paced society, students are bombarded with vast amounts of information

daily. Retaining and recalling this information is vital for their academic success. However, many

factors can influence memory retention, and one such factor that has garnered scant attention is

the choice of font style in educational materials. While traditional research focuses on teaching

methods, curriculum design, and learning environments, researchers have yet to explore the

potential impact of font style on memory retention. Understanding the relationship between font

style and memory retention can provide valuable insights into optimizing educational materials

to enhance learning outcomes.

At the global level, there is a growing emphasis on evidence-based education practices.

Teachers and curriculum developers are increasingly using research findings to inform their

instructional decisions and improve student learning. However, the impact of font style on

memory retention remains an untapped area of research in educational psychology. By conducting

a study specifically focused on font style and memory retention in the contexts, our research adds

a crucial piece to the larger puzzle of evidence-based instructional design. We aim to contribute

to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence regarding the influence of

font style on memory retention, enabling educators to make informed decisions when selecting

fonts for educational materials. While at the local level, there is widespread use of digital learning

systems. With an increased reliance on electronic devices and online resources for educational
 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts

reasons, students are constantly exposed to varied font styles across multiple platforms. For

example, Filipinos, particularly university students, are known to be regular users of social media

platforms such as Wattpad, where various font styles are regularly employed in digital content.

This widespread usage of digital platforms with different types of fonts emphasizes the

significance of researching how font styles influence memory retention, particularly in academic

settings. Our study aims to demonstrate the distinction between remembering words in regular

and bold font. Whether the bold text was easier to remember than the regular text or the normal

text was the one easier to recall. In line with this, our study aims to investigate the effect of font

style on memory retention among 2nd-year education students at the University of Luzon. If we

conducted this experimental research successfully then our study’s predicted result is that the bold

texts will be the ones that are the easiest to remember.

 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts

METHODS & PROCEDURE

Procedures

1. Consent form will be given to the dean of College of Education.

2. Consent forms will be given to the participants.

3. The data gathering will be facilitated through face-to-face.

4. The participants will have the option to withdraw from their participation.

5. The experiment will start after the researchers complete their instructions.

6. The participants will see a prepared video that contains two separate sets of words. One of

those has plain text, while the other has bold text.

7. They are given 1 minute and 30 seconds for every set to absorb the set of words.

8. The participants will try to recall the words in the video.

9. The findings will be gathered.

Materials

• Consent forms

• Video for the experiment (2 sets of 10 words, both in regular and bold text)

• Timer

• Pen and paper for the participants

 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts

CONSENT LETTER

Dr. Imelda E. Cuartel

Dean, College of Education

University of Luzon

Ma’am:

Greetings!

We are the students from the College of Liberal Arts taking up Bachelor of Arts in

Psychology. We are writing to request your permission to conduct experimental research in partial

fulfillment for our Experimental Psychology titled “The Typeface in Memory Retention of 2nd

Year Education Students in the University of Luzon”. The purpose of this study is to know the

effect of different typefaces on the memory retention of education students. In order to conduct

this research, we will need access to the education students at the University of Luzon for data

gathering purposes. We will also need to conduct interviews, surveys, and experiments as part of

the data collection process. Please, be assured that all participants in the study will be treated with

respect and privacy. Any data gathered will be kept confidential and not be shared with other

students.

Your positive response on this matter will be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

The Researchers
 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts

SET OF WORDS (Normal Text)

Lecture Demo

English Literature

Report Pencil

Principal Post-test

Water Watch

SET OF WORDS (Bold Text)

Recite Paper

Activity Book

Pre-test PowerPoint

Plan Chalk

Milk Burger
 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts

For us to successfully gather this experimental research we will be needing some materials

and procedures to execute this study. As a researcher we believe that different typefaces can leave

an impact to a respondent’s cognitive function thru memory retention.

Before we conduct the experimental research, we want to ask the Dean of College of

Education for her consent for us to formally regulate our research thru consent letter. After we

got the approval, we will give consent letter to our participants for them to be aware that we will

administer a study that needs their participation. After giving them their consent letter, we will be

allowing them to withdraw from being our participant if they want to.

The instructions will be given before letting them watch the 1- and 30-minutes video with the set

of words we prepared. After that, we will let them recall words from the video they have watched.

Lastly, we will gather the data that we conducted from our participants to create our findings.

RESPONDENTS

Fonts that are designed specifically for educational materials are often optimized for

readability. They have clear and distinct letterforms that make it easier for students to recognize

and comprehend the text. Good readability reduces eye strain and fatigue, allowing students to

focus better on the content. As for why education students were chosen as respondents, it is likely

because they have a direct and relevant perspective on the topic. They are the ones interacting

with educational materials on a regular basis, and their feedback can provide valuable insights

into the effectiveness of different fonts in an educational context. Furthermore, as future educators
 University of Luzon
Perez blvd, Dagupan City
College of Liberal Arts
themselves, they can provide a unique perspective on how font choices can impact teaching and

learning. Fonts can influence the visual appeal of educational materials and make them more

engaging for students. Creative and visually appealing fonts can capture students' attention, spark

their interest, and enhance their overall learning experience. By using different fonts for different

purposes, educators can help students quickly identify and understand the structure and

organization of the content. As for why certain respondents were chosen for studies of fonts in

education, it could be because they represent a diverse range of learners. This includes individuals

with dyslexia, students producing digital work, and those interested in the cognitive processes

involved in reading and memory retention.