The human brain works implicitly and explicitly to help people understand different things concerning the world and their lives. It has the ability to process and interpret what an individual sees or hears through certain parts. What is more, it is worth noting that as children grow, their brain does the same, and that helps them to comprehend the world. In 1929, John Ridley Stroop pioneered an innovation referred as the Stroop Effect to show how the human brain works regarding the processing of information (Goodwin, 2010). It shows that people’s embedded knowledge concerning their environment affect how they interact with it in different ways. Besides, the human brain processes information about what individuals see even without being conscious that such processing is taking place. That is the reason why, when we look at an object, we do not only see its physical properties, but also the meaning. Moreover, the Stroop Effect emphasizes on three types of stimulus, including neutral, congruent and incongruent which help individuals to comprehend how human brain functions.  Stroop Effect helps people to understand how their brain works to aid them to comprehend their environment.

Furthermore, to explain how the human brain works, Stroop conducted experiments using different words with different colors. Participants were provided with a list of words which were printed in different colors. For instance, the word pink would be listed as a text, but printed in blue or red and so on. Many words would follow the same procedure to produce a mix of words with different colors. The time used by participants to read the list would be recorded. The same would be repeated, but this time participants would read the words while naming the colors of the words (Weiner, 2003). For instance, when the word green is printed in red, the participants must say red before moving to the next word in the list. The results showed that participants spent more time to name the colors as compared to reading the words in the list (Wiers & Stacy, 2006). That reveals that the brain finds it easier to read them than to name their print colors. Besides, incongruent information requires more mental effort to resolve as compared to neutral and congruent one. What is more, congruent information and data support reading and compression while incongruence ones slow them.

Additionally, reading becomes automatic and requires less cognitive efforts. On the other hand, color declaration needs more cognitive efforts and the brain uses more energy. Moreover, Stroop experiments showed that for most individuals reading was automatic (Jarvis & Russell, J, 2002). Most importantly, he reveals that when the brain is forced to pay more attention to the color declaration as compared to reading a conflict or interference occurs. Therefore, it has to work harder to resolve the differences. Several theories relating to Stroop Effect have been supported in the contemporary field of psychology trying to elaborate the Effect. Some hypothesize that the automaticity of reading results in Stroop interference while some base it on mental prioritizing which is depicted when reading and distinguishing colors.  For instance, the brain would take more time to read a list of words, and at the same time, name their print colors (Mahakud, 2013). All in all, Stroop experiments showed that reading is automatic and simpler that color declaration. Additionally, a conflict between them causes a conflict and more time is required for processing.

Stroop’s paradigm is important as it is used in the different field, especially in psychology. It is one of the most renowned psychological tests which help to deal with issues in the discipline (Korbmacher, 2016). The model helps in the understanding of individual’s level of cognitive control, intentional capacity, and cognitive processing. It is necessary noting that such facets and skills are essential in a variety of ways concerning ways in which individuals interact with the world. What is more, it is used to examine neurodevelopment disorders such as autism and schizophrenia among others, and that helps physicians to deal with them (Davis, 2011). According to Koob, Le and Thompson (2010), interference mostly occurs as a result of brain damage, alcoholism, addictions such as gambling and drug abuse, and dementia among others. The Effect is also employed to establish the severity of such complications, thus the right course of action can be undertaken. Stroop Effect is a paradigm that experimentally examines how the human brain works.

Methodology

The Stroop test requires simple experimental set up which primarily consists of a stopwatch, an image of the words, and willing participants. Additionally, someone is needed to accurately record time and any other relevant information. Eye tracking is also imperative as it helps to come up with answers regarding participants’ observations. The time taken by participants to read and name colors is essential as it helps in the making of correct inferences regarding Stroop Effect.

In this research, 20 undergraduate ASU students were randomly chosen for the experiment. The participants consisted of 10 males and 100 females aged between 18 and 25. The participants selected were expected to be committed and willing to be engaged in the experiments towards reliable results. They were administered with the Stroop Effect test and ask to do three groups test and record the time they would take to read the list of words. Each group had 20 words which were randomly arranged. The first group was a neutral one which had 20 black print words combined with 4 colors, including yellow, blue, red, and green which were also randomly arranged.  The second group was congruent which had 20 print words in their color combined with 4 the color words, including yellow, blue, red, and green randomly arranged. Group three was the incongruent one which had 20 color print words in random but of the words yellow, blue red and green. The participants were expected to records their results relating to the time taken to read the words and name the colors from the three groups. The test was supported by a survey function through eye-tracking and areas of interest survey tools. That helped to determine the type of words that needed more visual attention, thus accurately making inferences.

Moreover, an audio recording was employed to accurately measure participants’ responses relating to the reading of word and declaration of colors. The procedure required every participant to verbally declare the color of all the words given in the test. The overview data was presented using heat maps. Moreover, for accuracy purposes, the error rate was investigated in a systematic manner through the survey setup. After visualizing and analyzing the data inferences were made regarding the time taken to read words and declare colors. The incongruent group of words required more time as compared to other groups. Besides, the human brain requires more resources to declare colors than to read words.

References

Davis, A. S. (2011). The handbook of pediatric neuropsychology. New York: Springer.

Goodwin, C. J. (2010). Research in psychology: Methods and design. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Koob, G. F., Le, M. M., & Thompson, R. F. (2010). Encyclopedia of behavioral neuroscience. London: Academic Press.

Jarvis, M., & Russell, J. (2002). Key ideas in psychology. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.

Korbmacher, M. (2016). Does the Stroop effect remain as robust today? How different kinds of coloured words are influencing the ink-colour naming speed.(N.p), Munich Grin Publishing.

Mahakud, G. C. (2013). Dyslexia: An introduction to reading disorders. New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education (India.

Weiner, I. B. (2003). Handbook of psychology: 4. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Wiers, R. W. H. J., & Stacy, A. W. (2006). Handbook of implicit cognition and addiction. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.