The document describes an experiment to test how quickly volunteers can recognize the ink color of words written in either matching or non-matching colors. When shown words written in matching colors, volunteers were able to name the colors almost twice as fast as when shown words written in non-matching colors. The results provide evidence that the brain can more easily recognize words written in the way it is used to seeing them.
2. I hypothesis when a word is written the
same as its ink color, its color will be
recognized and read easier and faster than a
word written different as its ink color. I base
my hypothesis on results of similar test I
have taken.
3. The purpose of this experiment was to test the
difference in the time it takes for a person to
correctly recognize the ink color of a word instead
of reading the word itself. I became interested in
this experiment when I heard of it and tried it
myself. The information gained from this
experiment will help others by showing them how
their brains work.
4. 1 computer with color printer.
Five sheets of cardstock.
Five envelopes
Both male and female volunteers to take a
simple color – naming test.
5. 1. Print color words printed in matching color ink
(red blue green black yellow).
2. Print color words in different color ink (five
examples of each different color (red blue green
black yellow).
3. Print words on cardstock (for sturdiness).
4. Cut words in horizontal strips.
6. 5. Lightly label the back of the strips, and keep the two sets
in separate envelopes.
6. Perform this test in a quiet place with no distractions.
7. Ask volunteers to call out the ink color as they read
through the strips as quickly as possible without making
mistakes.
8. Time how long it takes for the volunteers to name the
colors of the non-matching words.
7. 9. Time how long it takes for the volunteers to name
the colors of the matching word.
10. For half of the volunteers, reverse the order and have
them name the colors of the matching word first.
11. Calculate the average time to name the colors for
each word list.
8. 12. Calculate the time difference for each volunteer (ex:
non - matching word time minus matching word
time).
13. Calculate the average difference for the group of
volunteers.
14. Make bar graphs to illustrate results.
9. The human brain is what makes each person unique. This
project will test the difference in the time it takes for a person to
correctly recognize the ink color of a word instead of reading the
word itself. The procedure included testing volunteers’ ability to
say words as fast as they can. The first set or words were written
in the same ink colors as the word and the second set was written
in the different ink color of the word. The results showed that the
majority of the volunteers recognized the words with the same
ink color faster than the different ink color.
10. It took the volunteers almost twice as long to recognize the
words written in the different ink color. This is known as the
Stroop Effect. The major conclusion found in this experiment
was that when the brain is trained to recognize words written
in a certain way the words become a little more challenging to
recognize those same words when they are twisted or written
in a tricky way. Further studies could investigate if the brain
could be trained to recognize two different things at the same
time. This study could help educators decide which is the best
way to teach children how to read better.
11. The purpose of this project is to test the difference in the time it
takes for a person to correctly recognize and read easier and
faster than a word written different as its ink color. My results
indicate that the words with the different ink color take longer to
read. The most time the volunteers took while doing the
experiment that was written in the different color of the word
was about 17.2 seconds. The most time the volunteers took while
doing the experiment that was written I the same color as the
word was about 9 seconds.
12. On average, volunteers had a harder time recognizing words that
were written in different colors. Both male and female were not
able to read the words as quickly as they did with the words with
the same ink color. As shown in the graph, males read the words
a little faster. When the volunteers tried the words with the same
ink color, they did much better. Volunteers read the same ink
color almost two times faster than the different ink color words.
It should be noticed that some volunteers became frustrates
whey they were reading the words with different ink color.
13. Can the human brain recognize words that are written in
different ink color as fast as words that are written in same ink
color? When forty volunteers were shown six words, write in
different colors, and asked to read the color, not the word, out
loud, they were not able to recognize them as fast as they did
when the words were written in the same ink color. It took the
volunteers almost twice as long to recognize the words when
they were “tricky”. Earlier studies have shown that the human
brain is trained from a very young age to recognize words. The
more often the brain sees certain words; the faster the person
will be able to read it.
14. Reputation also helps the brain recognize the word faster. When
the color blue, for example, written blue, volunteers were able to
quickly say blue because the brain recognized both the color and
word the same. Now when the word white was written in a red
color, white, and the volunteers were once again asked to say the
color, it took them longer to ignore the word and only say the
color. It is possible that people could recognize tricky words if
they were given more time to study them. This study could have
better controlled if the volunteers were given more than one try
to say the words.
15. 1. Agee, S.,Ph.D.,(2007, September 18). Science Buddies Home Page.
Get the Scoop on Stroop.
2. Retrieved May 5, 2012 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org
3. APA, 2007. Interference: The stroop effect, “American Psychological
Association.
4. Atchinson, D.A. & Smith, G. (2000). Optics of the human eye.
Elsevier Health Sciences.
5. Barret, J. (1995). Manhattan project of the mind. The mission.
6. Brain Plasticity. (1998, January 26). Health Report. Germany
