Observing the Stroop Effect within a First Person Shooter Concept

Abstract

Following the digitisation of the classic Stroop Colour and Word Test, a set of scenarios have been produced in a game engine using a First Person Shooter (FPS) video-game format to determine whether the Stroop effect is replicable, specifically in the FPS video game medium. Twenty-four randomly selected participants were individually tested in four separate scenarios containing congruent or incongruent stimuli, shape and colour. The results showed a positive trend in relationship to the Stroop effect. The effect was present in incongruent observations of shape and colour stimuli, showing a relative increase in time to complete the given task. Response times for incongruent tests were, on average, 3.95 seconds (29.0%) slower overall with colour scenarios being performed slower than colour matching scenarios. Incongruent scenarios saw an increase of 20 (114.3%) errors with 118 (33.6%) more projectiles fired.