Gender Differences in the Performance on the Stroop Test - Research Paper Example

Gender Differences in the Performance on the Stroop Test Abstract: The present study is to report on the gender differences displayed by the males and females on the stroop test conducted on them. The test involved congruent and non-congruent trials conducted on the participants. The total number of trials and the number of correct trails were recorded against each participant for both the congruent and non-congruent trials. Out of the analysis of the results of tests conducted, it is observed that the mental ability of the male participants is more significant than that of female participants in respect of the mental tasks assigned to them. Another significant result is that the male participants’ ability is equally distributed in respect of the non-congruent trails conducted. Introduction: The ‘Stroop Test’ or ‘Stroop Task’ is often performed as a psychological test to judge one’s mental vitality and flexibility. As per EP Lab Online Measures, “the Stroop task takes advantage of our ability to read words more quickly and automatically than we can name the different colours”. The purpose of stroop test is to measure how effectively the human brain works in association with the mental tasks assigned to it. Especially with Stroop test the mental ability of a person involving attention, automatic processing and response selection is clearly assessed. The other purposes for which the stroop test can be put to use are to examine subtle effects of adverse conditions on the brain such as lack of sleep, fatigue or the effects of high altitudes. Method: 46 male participants with a minimum age of 19and maximum age of 42; and 29 female participants with minimum and maximum ages of 19 and 32 respectively took part in the psychological test. The test was conducted to figure out the differences in the mental abilities displayed by the males and females on the stroop test conducted on them. The tests were conducted in a psychological lab and several trials on congruent and non-congruent aspects were conducted by means of visual slides. On the basis of the visual slides questions were asked to the participants to state the correctness of the statements made in the respective slides. The answers given by the participants were recorded showing the total number of congruent and non-congruent trials and the number of correct responses against each was also recorded for a statistical analysis. Procedure: During the study, each participant was given a comfortable seating position to answer the questions in a leisurely manner. The participants were allowed to have a look into the slide for a sufficient time to make the brain assimilate the information needed to answer the question. The time varied from 15 seconds to 45 seconds depending on the questions that were asked. It took approximately about 15 minutes for each participant to complete the test. Results: The results of the study were analysed using ‘Minitab-15’ – the statistical analytical tool to get the accurate and detailed statistical analysis of the tests conducted. The following are some of the results: Of the total participants males represent 61.3 percent and females represent 38.7 percent. This can be represented by means a pie diagram as below: Congruent Trials: The following is the descriptive statistics as worked out using the Minitab 15 tool: Descriptive Statistics: Based on Mean for Congruent Trial per Participant: Total Variable gender Count Mean StDev Median Mode NforMode Mean for Congruent Females 29 0.8576 0.0605 0.8600 0.92 4 Trials per participant Males 46 0.9987 0.1038 0.9800 1.02 5 Based on the statistical analysis obtained from the Minitab calculations, the following are some of the information that can be obtained on the performances of males and females on the psychological tests with respect to congruent trials. The mean or average reaction of males to the stroop tests are more than that of the females in general. Similarly the spread or standard deviation from the mean is also more in respect of males. The mode value for males is 1.02 i.e. this is the value attained by the maximum number of people in the participants. Five male participants out of 46 have reached the position of 1.02 levels that is above the average level of 0.9987. In the female participants, 4 out of 29 participants have reached the same above average level at 0.92 (mean being 0.8576) The Median value for females at 0.86 is more than the Mean value suggesting that the number of people with above average mental ability is slightly greater than the average ability. But in the case of males the mean value is less than the median signifying that the number of males at less than average level of mental ability is more. Non-Congruent Trials: The descriptive statistical variables as worked out using Minitab 15, the statistical tool are as follows: Descriptive Statistics: Based on Mean for Non-Congruent Trial per Participant: Variable gender Count Mean StDev Median Mode NforMode Mean for Noncongruent Females 29 1.1121 0.1484 1.0600 1.03 2 Trials per participant Males 46 1.3322 0.1416 1.3300 1.33 7 The data contain at least five mode values in respect of female participants. The smallest four are shown. The other three modal values are 0.98, 0.99. 1.02 For the non-congruent trials conducted the statistical results are as below: Here also the mean reaction of males is greater than that of females. The standard deviation from the mean in respect of females is more. This implies that the distribution of mental ability among the females is larger than that of males. This means that the gap in the mental ability of females between better placed and least placed are more. Only 2 participants out of 29 female participants have reached the level of 1.03 (Mode) which is less than the average 0f 1.1121. Actually 2 people each have reached the levels of 0.98, 0.99. 1.02 and 1.03 all below the average. In respect of males the mean and mode level are the same and 7 male participants have reached this position which is equal to the mean level. Since the mean=median=mode in respect of males for the non-congruent trials, it can be said that all the male participants have more or less same mental ability with respect to non-congruent trials. Statistically this can be termed as the sample is equally distributed The following is the pictorial representation of the results of the test. This diagram shows the distribution of Mean values of correct congruent and non-congruent trails between male and female participants. Discussion: As per the statistical analysis outlined above the following are the brief summary of the findings out of the stroop tests conducted on male and female participants: The reaction showing the mental ability is more for males than the females both in respect of congruent and non-congruent trials. The maximum number of people reaching the same level of reaction is more in males being 5 and 7 respectively for congruent and non-congruent trials. In the Non-congruent trials the male participants’ ability is almost uniform. Reference: EP Lab Online Measures Stroop Task EPLab OnLine Measures — Stroop Task — Version: 4.0 http://www.snre.umich.edu/eplab/demos/st0/stroopdesc.html Read More