Stroop Effect
Exploring the Stroop Effect by using numbers
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to study automatic processes by replicating the previously carried out Stroop effect by using numbers. This experiment was conducted by recruiting 8 participants (4 males and 4 females), who are working in a head-office of Save the Children Organization in Yangon, selected by an opportunistic sample. Participants were presented with a Stroop-experiment-task sheet which consists of two parts which was the congruent and incongruent conditions. Time was taken and recorded for each participant to count the number of digits in the congruent and incongruent conditions. The results found that the participants took a significantly longer time to count the number of digits in the incongruent condition than in the congruent condition. This matches with the former research carried out by Stroop. Therefore, it can be concluded that the powerfully automatic nature of reading words is as same as reading numbers, as it is such a well-learned automatic activity it does interfere with other tasks. (Word count = 160) Introduction
Attention is a system, which allows people to choose and process certain significant incoming information. According to Treisman (1964), selective attention means the ability to concentrate on one task at a time whilst rejecting any external stimuli, which may be diverting. But divided attention means the ability to separate ones attention between two or more tasks. If one of these tasks becomes an automatic process it becomes easier to separate ones attention between these two tasks.
However, sometimes rather than being beneficial, interference can happen between the controlled process and the automatic process. Psychologists have often found that the strongly autonomic nature of reading words, as it is such a well-learned automatic activity can interfere with other tasks. This idea has been researched by a number of researchers.
Healey (1976) conducted a
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to study automatic processes by replicating the previously carried out Stroop effect by using numbers. This experiment was conducted by recruiting 8 participants (4 males and 4 females), who are working in a head-office of Save the Children Organization in Yangon, selected by an opportunistic sample. Participants were presented with a Stroop-experiment-task sheet which consists of two parts which was the congruent and incongruent conditions. Time was taken and recorded for each participant to count the number of digits in the congruent and incongruent conditions. The results found that the participants took a significantly longer time to count the number of digits in the incongruent condition than in the congruent condition. This matches with the former research carried out by Stroop. Therefore, it can be concluded that the powerfully automatic nature of reading words is as same as reading numbers, as it is such a well-learned automatic activity it does interfere with other tasks. (Word count = 160) Introduction
Attention is a system, which allows people to choose and process certain significant incoming information. According to Treisman (1964), selective attention means the ability to concentrate on one task at a time whilst rejecting any external stimuli, which may be diverting. But divided attention means the ability to separate ones attention between two or more tasks. If one of these tasks becomes an automatic process it becomes easier to separate ones attention between these two tasks.
However, sometimes rather than being beneficial, interference can happen between the controlled process and the automatic process. Psychologists have often found that the strongly autonomic nature of reading words, as it is such a well-learned automatic activity can interfere with other tasks. This idea has been researched by a number of researchers.
Healey (1976) conducted a
References: Rice, D. and Haralambos, M. (2013.) An experiment into the Stroop effect. Retrieved from http://www.123helpme.com/an-experiment-into-the-stroop-effect-view.asp?id=150197 Healey (1976) Stroop, J. R. (1935). Classics in history of psychology: Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Retrieved from http://ebookbrowse.com/classics-in-the-history-of-psychology-stroop-1935-pdf-d142657251. Treisman, A. M. (1964). Selective attention in man. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=1969-07664-001.