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Controlled Vs Automatic processes: A modified version of a Stroop experiment using colour-associated and colour neutral words.

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Controlled Vs Automatic processes: A modified version of a Stroop experiment using colour-associated and colour neutral words.
Controlled Vs Automatic processes: A modified version of a Stroop experiment using colour-associated and colour neutral words.

Abstract:

This experiment investigated the Stroop effect comparing response times between naming colour ink printed in colour-associated words and colour neutral words. Previous research of two-process theories which support Stroop's studies [cited in Edgar:2007] found that automatic processes can interfere with controlled processes. To test this interference further, colour-associated words were employed. Results of this experiment show a statistically significant difference in condition response times, with naming the colour ink printed in colour-associated words taking longer than those in colour neutral words, providing further support for the stroop effect and two-process theories.

Introduction:

The environment produces a wealth of sensory information our senses can potentially pick up and process and yet only some of it is processed, the rest ignored. This cognitive selection process is known as attention.

With attentional processes seemingly needed, this would indicate the brain has limited resources to process all sensory information. A study of 'Change blindness' by Simons and Levin [cited in Edgar:2007] indicates that it is generalities and not specifics which are processed. This raises questions as to why this would be the case.

Kahneman [cited in Edgar:2007] proposed a theory that a part of the brain, a limited-capacity central processor, has the job of evaluating bottom-up information and combining this with top-down information. Because it has limited capacity, much of the sensory information will not be processed. However, this explanation of limited resources does not account for the brain's ability to do more than one task at a time, for example, listening to music while driving a car. This question was investigated using dual-task studies.

Posner and Boies [cited in Edgar:2007] dual-task


References: Edgar, G. (2007) Evolutionary Psychology. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 43-95). Milton Keynes: The Open University. The Course Team, (2007) Introduction to research methods. In The Research Team, Exploring Psychological Research Methods (pp.1-42). Milton Keynes: The Open University.
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