The Effect of Warped Words on the Stroop Effect

1. The Effect of Warped Words on the Stroop Effect By Juliana Guarino Grade 9

2. Problem • Do warped words have an effect on the Stroop Effect? • This project was chosen because: • It dealt with human subjects • I was curious as to whether it would truly effect it or not.

3. Research It is 115% harder to say the ink color of these words than with colors that match their ink. It is also said that Warping the words clockwise or counterclockwise will make it up to 4 times easier to say the ink color of these words or matching color words.

4. Hypothesis • The Stroop Effect states that: if the color of the ink is a different color then the actual word, then it will be harder for the subject to say the ink color. • If the words on the paper are warped, then the subject will call out the color of the ink faster. • If the subject is older, then he/she will say the color of the ink faster than a younger subject.

5. Materials • Computer • Five sheets of Cardstock • 20 Volunteers • Stopwatch

6. Procedure • Twenty sequences of five color words were printed on card stock. • Each card was held up in front of the volunteers and they were asked to call out the color of the ink, and time how long it took for them to say the colors. • The average time for how long it takes when it is the same color as the ink color and the average time for how long it takes when the ink color is different from the printed color is calculated • The difference between the two types of words was calculated and then then the average difference between the two was calculated. • The twenty sequences of warped clockwise words in the same ink color and different ink color were printed on card stock. • Steps 2 and 3 were repeated, this time for the warped words. • The time differences between the average difference of the changed ink color between the regular Stroop effect cards and the difference between the two of the warped words was calculated.

7. Control: The words where the stroop effect is not exemplified Independent Variable: The treatment of the words (i.e: warped or with the stroop effect) Dependent Variable: how long it will take the subject to say the ink color

8. Data Average Difference between the warped words and regular words: 9th grade: 1.7875 10th grade: 3.635 11th grade: .775 12th grade: 3.34 This experiment didn’t depend on age All Grades: Warped words- different colors Warped words same colors Different colors Same colors

9. Conclusion • If the words on the paper are warped, then it will be easier for the subject to say the color of the ink. • If the subject is older, then he/she will say the color of the ink faster than a younger subject. • First is supported, the second was not.

10. Error/Improvement • Experiment was successful: • Possible things that could’ve made it erroneous: • Times were taken wrong • Error in calculations • Changes on Experiment: • Differs between schools • See if counterclockwise warping makes it even easier to read

11. Thank You! • Works Cited  • Chudler, Eric H. “Stroop Effect.” Neuroscience for Kids. N.p., 2006. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://faculty.washington.edu/‌chudler/‌words.html>. • “Science Fair Experiment.” Cool Science Projects. N.p., 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://www.cool-science-projects.com/‌Science-Fair-Experiment.html>. • “Science Fair Project Guide.” Science Buddies. Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation, 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://www.sciencebuddies.org/‌science-fair-projects/‌project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab>. • “The Stroop Effect.” About.com. New York Times Co., 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://psychology.about.com/‌library/‌bl-stroopeffect.htm>. • “Stroop Effect.” Psychology 132. N.p., 2000. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://psychlops.psy.uconn.edu/‌psych132/‌manual/‌stroop.html>. • -Thanks everyone for listening and watching my power point on my science fair project! • Any questions?