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Verbal coding and the elimination of Stroop interference in a matching task.
1Department of Psychology, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 01845.
The American Journal of Psychology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Researchers investigated the Stroop effect, finding that using non-verbal color coding eliminated interference. This suggests separate processing systems can prevent cognitive conflict in attention tasks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
Background:
- The Stroop effect demonstrates interference when processing color words.
- Translational models propose eliminating interference by using separate coding systems for target colors and distractors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if Stroop interference can be eliminated by inducing non-verbal color processing.
- To investigate the role of verbal coding strategies in Stroop interference.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Subjects matched colors to shapes before Stroop task; attempted non-verbal mediation.
- Experiment 2: Subjects used nonsense or actual color names for color-shape matching before Stroop task.
Main Results:
- Stroop interference persisted in Experiment 1, contrary to predictions.
- Stroop interference was eliminated when using nonsense color names, but persisted with actual color names in Experiment 2.
Conclusions:
- Findings support modified translational models or outcome-conflict theories of the Stroop effect.
- Separating coding systems, particularly by avoiding verbal mediation for target colors, can resolve Stroop interference.