Adult age differences in the Color Stroop Test: a comparison between an Item-by-item and a Blocked version.
The Color Stroop Test is consensually considered as a task to assess the efficiency of inhibitory mechanisms. If the Stroop interference effect is largely undisputed, it is also acknowledged that the size of this effect varies as a function of various task manipulations, such as the task format. The aim of the present study was to compare the size of adult age-related differences in inhibition as assessed by two different versions of the Color Stroop Test: a standard Blocked paper-and-pencil version and a computerized Item-by-item one. Results showed pronounced age-related differences in the interference effect in the Blocked version, but not in the Item-by-item one. These findings are discussed in terms of the characteristics of the tasks. The choice of the appropriate version with respect to clinical aims is also addressed.
Ludwig
C
C
Center for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Geneva, Route de Drize 7, CH-1227 Carouge, Switzerland. Catherine.Ludwig@unige.ch
Borella
E
E
Tettamanti
M
M
de Ribaupierre
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D003119:Color Perception Tests / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult