Chapter 7. Automatic Processing: The Stroop Task

Learning Objectives

automatic processing

effortless, efficient processing of information that does not require conscious attention

stimulus

an external event, such as a light or sound, detected by our senses

Automatic Processing: The Stroop Task

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Learning Objectives:

Experience the Stroop Effect by performing a Stroop color-naming task.

Summarize the Stroop Effect as it relates to automatic processing and interference.

The figure shows multiple names for colors written in a different color of letters than the word itself. The word green is written in blue letters, the word blue is written in purple letters, the word yellow is written in red letters, orange is written in yellow letters, and so on. The color of the letters in the word does not match the word.

Review

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1. In 1935, psychologist J. Ridley Stroop published a famous experiment that showed how a distracting stimulus can interfere with our thinking and our actions.

Reference: Stroop, J.R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643-662.

7.0.1 Review

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The top of the image has a list of words for various colors: red, blue, green, and yellow. The bottom of the image has colored squares in red, blue, green, and yellow.

2. The Stroop Task involves comparing the speed with which people can read words and name colors. In general, naming colors takes longer than reading words.

7.0.2 Review

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3. The most interesting results occur when the color words are displayed in a color that conflicts with the meaning of the word, as shown here. When asked to name the colors in this condition, most people take more time and make more errors.

The word blue is written in red font. The task is to name the color of the letters as quickly as possible.

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4. The interference caused by the conflicting information is called the Stroop Effect. Although it has been tested mainly with color words, the Stroop Effect also occurs in other situations, such as naming objects that have been labeled with conflicting words (for example, a circle labeled with the word "triangle").

The figure shows multiple names for shapes written below a different shape than the word itself. The word triangle is below a circle, the word circle is below a square, the word diamond is below a triangle, the word square is below a diamond, and so on. The shape does not match the word.

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5. Researchers believe that the interference is caused by automatic processing of the meaning of words, because the Stroop Effect does not occur in young children who can name colors but cannot read.

Practice: Experiment Instructions

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Practice: Experiment Instructions

Select one of the "Color-Word Task" buttons to demonstrate the Stroop Task.

How Flexible is Your Mind?

The Stroop Color-Word Task is a classic experiment on interference in thinking. On the next screen, we will simulate this experiment with four lists of words. For the first list, you should read the words. For the other three lists, you should name the colors in which the words are displayed. We will measure how quickly you can perform the task.

Example of “Read the Words” task:

blue orange green

Correct response: You should say “blue, orange, green” as quickly as you can.

Example of “Name the Colors” task:

green purple white

Correct response: You should say purple, blue, orange as quickly as you can.

If you choose the standard version of the task, you will need to speak your responses "out loud," so be sure that you are in a location where your voice will not disturb others. Each list will appear as soon as you start the timer. When you have finished the list, stop the timer and move on to the next list.

If you choose the quiet version, you will respond on the keyboard rather than by speaking.

List1: Read the Words

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Press the button below to start the next trial.

Press the down arrowkey to start the next trial.

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Correct!

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Current Time:0 msec

Cumulative Time:0.0 sec

Errors:0

Correct:0

List 1: Read the Words

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Practice: Experiment Results

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Practice: Experiment Results

The number of seconds that elapsed while you were processing each list is show below.

“Read the Words” condition:

blue orange green

0.0 seconds

“Name the Colors” facilitation condition:

yellow red blue

0.0 seconds

“Name the Colors” neutral condition:

ooooo ooooo ooooo

0.0 seconds

“Name the Colors” interference condition:

green purple white

0.0 seconds

Researchers have found that, on average, it takes longer to name colors than to read words. However, when the color names match the words, this facilitates the color naming process, leading to faster times.

The Stroop Effect refers specifically to the interference condition. Most people take much longer when the words are in conflict with the colors, and they make more errors. Researchers believe that the interference comes from the fact that reading words has become an automatic process — so, you probably found it difficult to ignore the conflicting color words.

Quiz 1

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Quiz 1

Drag each task at the top to a gray area below to arrange the tasks in order of difficulty (for the average person) from left to right. When all the tasks have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review the conditions of the Stroop Task.

Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.

Fast performance with few errors

Slow performance with many errors

Name colors

green

purple

white

Name colors

yellow

red

blue

Read words

blue

orange

green

Name colors

ooooo

Quiz 2

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Quiz 2

Select an answer to the question. Then, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Try to answer the question again.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.

The Stroop Effect refers to the finding that people take much longer to name the colors–and they make more errors–when the words are in conflict with the colors. What causes this interference?

Words in a colored type are more difficult to read than words in black type.

Reading words has become an automatic process, so the meaning of the words can't be ignored.

The number of colors exceeds our short-term memory capacity.

Conclusion

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