Introduction

Negative priming is a slow down and increase in error rate when responding to an object that had to be ignored previously (Tipper, 1985). For a good review, see the paper by Mayr & Buchner, (2007).

Check the lesson about negative priming with more details than provided here.

About this implementation

This demo uses the idea of the Dalrymple-Alford & Budayr (1966) paper.

Run the demo

Data output file

In PsyToolkit, the data output file is simply a textfile. The save line of the PsyToolkit experiment script determines what is being saved in the data output file. Typically, for each experimental trial, you would have exactly one line in your text file, and each number/word on that line gives you the information you need for your data analysis, such as the condition, response speed, and whether an error was made.

Meaning of the columns in the output datafile. You need this information for your data analysis.

Colum Meaning

1

Blockname

2

Blocknumber

3

Color of word

4

Color inkcolor (except for training block)

5

Table row of used table (this way, you can determine exactly which stimulus was shown)

6

The key that was pressed

7

Status (1=correct, 2=wrong, 3=timeout)

8

Reaction time

Download

If you have a PsyToolkit account, you can upload the zipfile directly to your PsyToolkit account. Watch a video on how to do that. If you want to upload the zipfile into your PsyToolkit account, make sure the file is not automatically uncompressed (some browsers, especially Mac Safari, by default uncompress zip files). Read here how to easily deal with this.

Further reading

  • Dalrymple-Alford, E.C. & Budayr, B. (1966). Examination of some aspects of the Stroop color word test. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 23, 1211-1214.

  • Mayr, S. & Buchner, A. (2007). Negative Priming as a Memory Phenomenon. Journal of Psychology, 215(1), 35-51.

  • Tipper, S.P. (1985). The negative priming effect: Inhibitory priming by ignored objects. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Experimental Psychology, 37A, 571-590.