[conorwade]

This research seems contrived at best. It compares strong coloured action element's to weakly coloured action element's. It just so happens that the element's on the weakly coloured version's are also using flat design. The major element here is colour.

The "research" is designed to give a certain result. If they wanted to test flat versus 3d, everything should be the same except for whether the elements are 3d or flat.

Flat design is not about using less colour to signify action. It is a lack of 3d and skeuomorphic design.