The Stroop Effect

1. What is the psychological phenomenon known as the “Stroop Effect”? What

is meant by selective attention theory?
Stroop effect refers to the delayed reaction times when the colour of the
word doesn’t match the name of the word. Selective attention theory means
naming the actual colour of the words requires much more attention than
simply reading the text.

2. Suggest two possible hypotheses that could be tested with the Data obtained
from this research. For each of the hypotheses determine which the
Independent variable is & which the Dependent variable is.
Hypothesis: if the colour of the word change then the reaction time would be
longer.
Independent variable: the colour of the words
Dependent variable: the reaction times

3. Of the data obtained, which would you classify as Quantitative & which is
Qualitative?

4. Work out the mean, median & mode for the “Colour Chart Control Condition”
& the “Colour Chart Experimental Condition”. Is there a difference in these
measures for the two sets of data? What does that indicate to you about the
“Stroop Effect”?
Mean of colour chart control condition:
Median of colour chart control condition:
Mode of colour chart control condition:

Mean of colour chart experimental condition:

Median of colour chart experimental condition:
Mode of colour chart experimental condition:

5. Create a graph to represent a mean comparison of time taken to complete

the test under control and experimental conditions.

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 6. Using a measure of central tendency (ie. Mean, median or mode) to support
your statement, were more errors made by participants under the Control
condition or the Experimental condition?

7. Can you identify two extraneous (or confounding) variables, which may have
interfered or influenced the results we obtained? For each, state their
possible impact.

8. Is it possible to determine from this set of data whether females have better
selective attention than males?

9. Regarding the participants in this study, are they a representative sample?

Explain. (i.e. Comment on any biases you may notice in the sample.)

10. In regards to ethical considerations regarding this research, explain one

aspect of the research procedure we undertook that met ethical
requirements, and one aspect which may have not met a key ethical
consideration.

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