The Impact of Visual Acuity and Color Vision on Stroop Tasks

Post date: May 21, 2014 7:16:28 AM

Abstract. Visual ability can influence performance on cognitive tasks (e.g., LaFleur and Salthouse, 2014). Tasks that require visual acuity, like reading, may be particularly susceptible to poor visual ability. Color vision deficits can also impact cognitive performance (Wilkinson, 1992). Therefore, visual ability may significantly impacts tasks that require both reading and color processing, like the Stroop task. The impact of visual ability on two Stroop tasks was examined. It was anticipated that visual ability would have a minimal effect on non-verbal Stroop task but a moderate to large effect on the word version of the task. Results support these assumptions. Consequently, it appears that the NSCST can be used regardless of the visual acuity or color vision of the examinees while the CWST should not be used with examinees having poor visual acuity or color vision deficiencies.

Poster presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Western Psychological Association (April 2014 in Portland, OR).