How the Stroop Effect Works

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow the Stroop Effect WorksTheoriesOther UsesPerforming Your Own Stroop TestTerms and Key QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How the Stroop Effect Works

Theories

Other Uses

Performing Your Own Stroop Test

Terms and Key Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Close

The Stroop effect is a phenomenon that occurs when the name of a color doesn’t match the color in which it’s printed (e.g., the word “red” appears in blue text rather than red). In such a color test (aka a Stroop test or task), you’d likely take longer to name the color (and be more likely to get it wrong) than if the color of the ink matched the word.

Although it might sound simple, the Stroop effect refers to the delayed reaction times when the color of the word doesn’t match the name of the word. It’s easier to say the color of a word if it matches the semantic meaning of the word.

For example, if someone asked you to say the color of the word “black” that was also printed in black ink, it would be much easier to say the correct color than if it were printed in green ink.

For students of psychology looking for a relatively easy andinteresting experimentto try on their own, replicating the Stroop effect can be a great option.

Theories of the Stroop Effect

Researchers don’t yet know why words interfere with naming a color in this way, but researchers have proposed several theories:

What Is Automaticity?

Other Uses of the Stroop Test

Over time, researchers have altered the Stroop test to help study populations with brain damage and mental disorders such as dementia, depression, and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

For example, in studying people with depression, researchers present negative words such as “grief” and pain" along with neutral words such as “paper” and “window.” Typically, these people speak the color of a negative word more slowly than they do a neutral word.

The original Stroop test included two parts. In the first, the written color name is printed in a different color of ink, and the participant is asked to speak the written word. In the second, the participant is asked to name the ink color.

There are a number of different approaches you could take in conducting your own Stroop effect experiment.

Before you begin your experiment, you should understand these concepts:

What Is a Dependent Variable?

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Stroop test helps researchers evaluate the level of your attention capacity and abilities, and how fast you can apply them. It’s particularly helpful in assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and executive functioning in people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).The Stroop test helps researchers measure the part of the brain that handles planning, decision-making, and dealing with distraction.There are many possible combinations of scores on the first and second tasks. They might indicate speech problems, reading skill deficits, brain injury. color blindness, emotional upset, or low intelligence. Likewise, they might mean that your brain is able to handle conflicting information well and has adequate cognitive adaptability and skills.

The Stroop test helps researchers evaluate the level of your attention capacity and abilities, and how fast you can apply them. It’s particularly helpful in assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and executive functioning in people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

The Stroop test helps researchers measure the part of the brain that handles planning, decision-making, and dealing with distraction.

There are many possible combinations of scores on the first and second tasks. They might indicate speech problems, reading skill deficits, brain injury. color blindness, emotional upset, or low intelligence. Likewise, they might mean that your brain is able to handle conflicting information well and has adequate cognitive adaptability and skills.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stroop JR.Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions.J. Exp. Psychol. Gen.1935;18;643-662. doi:10.1037/h0054651Sahinoglu B, Dogan G.Event-Related Potentials and the Stroop Effect.Eurasian J Med. 2016;48(1):53‐57. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2016.16012Besner D, Stolz JA.Unconsciously controlled processing: the stroop effect reconsidered.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 1999;6(3):449-455. doi:10.3758/BF03210834Frings C, Englert J, Wentura D, Bermeitinger C.Decomposing the emotional Stroop effect.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2010;63(1):42-49. doi:10.1080/17470210903156594

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stroop JR.Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions.J. Exp. Psychol. Gen.1935;18;643-662. doi:10.1037/h0054651Sahinoglu B, Dogan G.Event-Related Potentials and the Stroop Effect.Eurasian J Med. 2016;48(1):53‐57. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2016.16012Besner D, Stolz JA.Unconsciously controlled processing: the stroop effect reconsidered.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 1999;6(3):449-455. doi:10.3758/BF03210834Frings C, Englert J, Wentura D, Bermeitinger C.Decomposing the emotional Stroop effect.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2010;63(1):42-49. doi:10.1080/17470210903156594

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Stroop JR.Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions.J. Exp. Psychol. Gen.1935;18;643-662. doi:10.1037/h0054651Sahinoglu B, Dogan G.Event-Related Potentials and the Stroop Effect.Eurasian J Med. 2016;48(1):53‐57. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2016.16012Besner D, Stolz JA.Unconsciously controlled processing: the stroop effect reconsidered.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 1999;6(3):449-455. doi:10.3758/BF03210834Frings C, Englert J, Wentura D, Bermeitinger C.Decomposing the emotional Stroop effect.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2010;63(1):42-49. doi:10.1080/17470210903156594

Stroop JR.Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions.J. Exp. Psychol. Gen.1935;18;643-662. doi:10.1037/h0054651

Sahinoglu B, Dogan G.Event-Related Potentials and the Stroop Effect.Eurasian J Med. 2016;48(1):53‐57. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2016.16012

Besner D, Stolz JA.Unconsciously controlled processing: the stroop effect reconsidered.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 1999;6(3):449-455. doi:10.3758/BF03210834

Frings C, Englert J, Wentura D, Bermeitinger C.Decomposing the emotional Stroop effect.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2010;63(1):42-49. doi:10.1080/17470210903156594

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