Measures the color-word interference tendency, that is the impairment of the reading speed or color recognition due to interfering information.
This Stroop interference test is a sensomotor speed test that measures speed in reading words and naming colors. Afterwards it also measures speed under conditions of color/word interference. The ability to control cognitive interference is usually assessed by means of tasks involving at least two competing information-processing pathways. The task normally requires the respondent to use the less dominant information-processing pathway in the face of interference from the dominant pathway. This test measures both speed in reading words and naming colors and speed under conditions of color/word interference. This also yields information about the respondent’s information processing and attention processes. The test is therefore particularly useful in clinical neuropsychology, but it is also used in safety assessments and sports psychology.

At the start of testing the respondent’s reaction speed and accuracy are established as a baseline. This involves presenting color words without coloring or simple color bars. In one test form (S8), the words are first presented in the appropriate color. They are then presented in various antagonistic colors. The respondent is required to react either to the font color or to the meaning of the color word, depending on the specific task. The respondent presses a color key on the response panel or touch screen as quickly as possible.

S7: Color-word interference
S8: Congruent/incongruent
S10: Color-word interference (for touch screen)

The following main variables are scored:

• Reading interference tendency: Indicator of interference tendency or change in performance as a result of the changed item material.
• Naming interference tendency: Indicator of interference tendency or change in performance as a result of the changed item material.