Stroop-like tests measure the ability to control interference created by irrelevant stimuli when one is asked to focus on a specific task. This study aimed to answer whether the interference...Show moreStroop-like tests measure the ability to control interference created by irrelevant stimuli when one is asked to focus on a specific task. This study aimed to answer whether the interference observed during a Stroop-like task is caused by individual differences, which could be done by measuring the stability of the reaction times and interference effect within one session of a Stroop-like task (by dividing the session in two halves). It was hypothesized that both reaction times and interference effect would be stable within one session, with the exception of children under 7 years old, whose ability to control interference is not fully developed yet. The data of previously administered four Stroop-like tasks (color-object; position-object; number-object; and picture-word) in children, adolescents, and young adults, was used and analyzed to address these questions. The results of this study confirmed only the hypothesis for reaction times, while there was an inconsistency in the results of interference effect. The same pattern was observed for the younger children of this study, as they showed a difference from the remaining age groups in reaction times but inconsistency in interference effect. Further exploration is needed in order to understand why interference effect did not show stability within a session of a Stroop-like task.Show less
