The Stroop Effect

If I was to type

DON'T READ THIS

you wouldn't, would you?

oops! you have!

If I was to ask you to name the colour these words are typed in, how would you go?

Table

Chair

Plate

Fork

how would you go?

Now how about naming the colours these words are typed in:

Blue

Red

Orange

Black

This is known as the Stroop Effect and strikes me as a good activity to show one of the barriers to the introduction of a Learning Organisation.

The effect was first noted in an article Studies of Interference in Serial Verbal Reactions published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in 1935.

There's a great explanation at http://www.open2.net/childofourtime/2005/animalstroop.html Even though people can see advantages, they find it difficult to commit to a concept.
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