Reverse Stroop
Text Variant
What is this?
The inverse of the classic task — read the word while ignoring the ink color. While the classic Stroop asks you to name the color and ignore the word, the Reverse Stroop flips this around, revealing fundamental truths about how automatic reading really is.
What does it measure?
Whether interference works in both directions. Reading is so automatic that the reverse Stroop effect is typically much weaker than the classic effect. This asymmetry confirms that word reading is a more practiced, automatic skill than color naming for literate adults.
How it works
- 1You will see color words displayed in various ink colors, just like the classic Stroop.
- 2This time, READ THE WORD and ignore the ink color.
- 3For example, if you see "GREEN" in red ink, the correct answer is green.
- 4Respond as quickly and accurately as possible for each trial.
Fun fact
The reverse Stroop effect is much smaller than the classic, proving that reading really is more automatic than color naming. This asymmetry is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for the automaticity of reading in cognitive psychology.