Hershman, Ronen, Sapir, Ayelet, Keha, Eldad, Wagner, Michael, Weiss, Elisabeth M. and Henik, Avishai (2024) The contribution of difficulty of an irrelevant task to task conflict. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. ISSN 1747-0218 (Print), 1747-0226 (Online) (doi:10.1177/17470218241228709)

Preview

PDF (Open Access Article) 50110_SAPIR_The_Contribution_Of_Difficulty_Of_An_Irrelevant_Task_To_Task_Conflict_(OA)_2024.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (491kB) | Preview

Abstract

In the standard colour-word Stroop task, participants are presented with colour words and required to respond to their colour while ignoring their meaning. Two types of conflict might occur in such experiments: information conflict and task conflict. Information conflict reflects the processing of two contradicting pieces of information and is indicated by shorter reaction times (RTs) in congruent than in incongruent trials. Task conflict reflects the additional effort associated with performing two tasks, as opposed to one, and is indicated by shorter RTs in neutral trials than in congruent trials (termed reverse facilitation). While information conflict is commonly seen in Stroop and Stroop-like tasks, task conflict is rarely observed. In the present study, participants were presented with coloured segments that, by applying Gestalt principles, could be perceived as colour words. We found that incongruent trials were slower than congruent trials, suggesting that participants successfully perceived the colour words, which led to involuntary reading. In addition, reversed facilitation was found so that neutral trials (i.e., trials that only consist of one task) were faster than congruent trials (as well as incongruent trials; both consist of two tasks). The presence of both interference from the incongruent trials and reverse facilitation suggests that involuntary reading could also occur in scenarios requiring cognitive effort.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is a "Special Issue Paper". - MP
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Stroop effect, cognitive control, information conflict, task conflict, Gestalt principles
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology Q Science > Q Science (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2025 11:21
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50110

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads