Using CogLab, complete the Stroop effect experiment and create a r eport on the experiment.
In your r eport, write a brief introduction explaining the Stroop effect. Next, in the Methods section, describe the process that you followed to complete the experiment. Make sure to include enough information so that others can also perform the same experiment successfully.
Finally, describe the experimental results. Summarize your report, including answers to the following questions:
- Were the results in accordance with your expectations? Provide a rationale to support your answer.
- Did anything about the experiment surprise you? If yes, what?
- What factors would influence the results of the Stroop effect experiment?
- Cite any sources you use using APA format on a separate page.
Stroop Effect Theories.html
Stroop Effect Theories
In the Stroop effect experiment, participants view words such as “red,” “green,” and “blue” appearing one at a time on the screen, and they need to identify the font color. The font color may or may not match the word appearing on the screen. Finally, the reaction times of participants are measured.
Theory of Automatic Processing
The most common explanation is based on automatic processing. For literate adults, reading takes place effortlessly—it is an automatic practice. However, most adults do not commonly engage in color identification tasks. Therefore, being a less practiced skill, identifying a color takes some conscious effort. Adults tend to read the word quickly and automatically; however, they take more time to identify the font color.
In case the word and the font color are the same, the response is fast and mostly correct because the word identification is quick and the correct answer is not solely dependent on the font color.
In case the word and the font color are different, most participants either answer incorrectly or take more time to respond. The reason is that although participants may read the word quickly, they need time to engage in the second, time-consuming process of identifying the font color.
Theory of Response Competition
An alternative, although similar, explanation is based on response competition.
According to this theory, when adults are confronted with the Stroop task, their responses for identifying a word as well as the font color in which the word appears may be activated at the same time. This causes the responses to interfere with each other. The final outcome is that the participants tend to identify the word first and then its font color—an uncommon task for which neural pathways is not strong.
The Stoop Effect Experiment.html
The Stoop Effect Experiment
The Stroop effect was first observed by J. R. Stroop in 1935. In the experiment, the participant was presented with color names and was required to identify the color of ink used to write the names. For instance, if the word “red” was written in green color, the correct response would be green. However, if the word “red” was written in red color, the correct response would be red.
It was observed that the participant’s reaction time slowed and accuracy decreased when the name of the color did not match the ink color used to write the name.
Since 1935, these results have been replicated many times, and people are continuing to develop variations based on the original experiment.
Additional Material
View a PDF Transcript of The Stroop Effect Experiment
media/transcripts/SU_PSY3020__Strrop_Effect
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PSY3002_Cognitive Lab
© 2009 South University
The Stroop Effect Experiment
In the Stroop effect experiment, participants view words such as “red,” “green,” and “blue”
appearing one at a time on the screen, and they need to identify the font color. The font color may
or may not match the word appearing on the screen. Finally, the reaction times of participants are
measured.
There are two theories that can explain the results.
Theory of Automatic Processing
The most common explanation is based on automatic processing. For literate adults, reading
takes place effortlessly—it is an automatic practice. However, most adults do not commonly
engage in color identification tasks. Therefore, being a less practiced skill, identifying a color
takes some conscious effort. Adults tend to read the word quickly and automatically; however,
they take more time to identify the font color.
In case the word and the font color are the same, the response is fast and mostly correct because
the word identification is quick and the correct answer is not solely dependent on the font color.
In case the word and the font color are different, most participants either answer incorrectly or
take more time to respond. The reason is that although participants may read the word quickly,
they need time to engage in the second, time-consuming process of identifying the font color.
Theory of Response Competition
An alternative, although similar, explanation is based on response competition.
According to this theory, when adults are confronted with the Stroop task, their responses for
identifying a word as well as the font color in which the word appears may be activated at the
same time. This causes the responses to interfere with each other. The final outcome is that the
participants tend to identify the word first and then its font color—an uncommon task for which
neural pathways are not strong.