An Investigation into the Stroop Effect
By Fiona Taylor
Introduction
Stroop conducted experiments in the 1930s on interference with visual perception. He discovered that participants had difficulties naming colours when they were printed in different coloured inks.
In some lists, colour words were spelled and printed in the same ink colours (congruous).
Example: RED
In other lists the words and colours did not match (incongruous).
Example: GREEN
Participants in Stroop's experiments took longer to name the incongruous words. He called this the 'Stroop effect'.
Aim
To investigate the Stroop effect by conducting an experiment to time how long it takes for participants to say the colours of the words on two different lists (congruent/incongruent). To then produce evidence in the form of graphs and data analysis to support or disprove the following hypothesis.
Hypothesis
The average mean time to complete list two (incongruous) will be greater than the average mean time to complete list one (congruous).
IV - lists of words congruent/incongruent
DV - time taken to name ink colours measured in seconds
Design
As quantitative data (time) is being measured, the experiment should be as controlled as possible. A field experiment will allow as many of the possible extraneous variables that may affect the DV to be controlled. If these variables are controlled it is more likely that any change in the DV is a result of the IV rather than other confounding variables.
Variables to be Controlled:
* the room in which the experiment is to take place
By Fiona Taylor
Introduction
Stroop conducted experiments in the 1930s on interference with visual perception. He discovered that participants had difficulties naming colours when they were printed in different coloured inks.
In some lists, colour words were spelled and printed in the same ink colours (congruous).
Example: RED
In other lists the words and colours did not match (incongruous).
Example: GREEN
Participants in Stroop's experiments took longer to name the incongruous words. He called this the 'Stroop effect'.
Aim
To investigate the Stroop effect by conducting an experiment to time how long it takes for participants to say the colours of the words on two different lists (congruent/incongruent). To then produce evidence in the form of graphs and data analysis to support or disprove the following hypothesis.
Hypothesis
The average mean time to complete list two (incongruous) will be greater than the average mean time to complete list one (congruous).
IV - lists of words congruent/incongruent
DV - time taken to name ink colours measured in seconds
Design
As quantitative data (time) is being measured, the experiment should be as controlled as possible. A field experiment will allow as many of the possible extraneous variables that may affect the DV to be controlled. If these variables are controlled it is more likely that any change in the DV is a result of the IV rather than other confounding variables.
Variables to be Controlled:
* the room in which the experiment is to take place
