Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts
Colors convey meaning and can impair intellectual performance in achievement situations. Even the processing of color words can exert similar detrimental effects. In four experiments, we tried to replicate previous findings regarding the processing of the word “red” (as compared to a control color)...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of California Press
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Collabra: Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.collabra.org/articles/277 |
| _version_ | 1819150501258723328 |
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| author | Timo Gnambs Carrie Kovacs Barbara Stiglbauer |
| author_facet | Timo Gnambs Carrie Kovacs Barbara Stiglbauer |
| author_sort | Timo Gnambs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Colors convey meaning and can impair intellectual performance in achievement situations. Even the processing of color words can exert similar detrimental effects. In four experiments, we tried to replicate previous findings regarding the processing of the word “red” (as compared to a control color) on cognitive test scores. Experiments 1 and 2 (Ns = 69 and 104) are direct replications of Lichtenfeld, Maier, Elliot, and Pekrun (2009). Both experiments failed to uncover a red color effect on verbal reasoning scores among high school students and undergraduates (Cohen’s d = 0.04 and –0.23). Experiments 3 and 4 (N = 103 and 1,149) failed to identify an effect of processing red on general knowledge test scores (Cohen’s d = 0.19) and 0.01) among undergraduates and adults. Together, these results do not corroborate the assumption that processing the word red impairs intellectual performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:18:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7daba115f9494ae0b3208dd7850964fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2474-7394 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:18:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | University of California Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Collabra: Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7daba115f9494ae0b3208dd7850964fc2022-12-21T18:23:03ZengUniversity of California PressCollabra: Psychology2474-73942020-01-016110.1525/collabra.277171Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication AttemptsTimo Gnambs0Carrie Kovacs1Barbara Stiglbauer2Johannes Kepler University Linz, AT; Leibniz Institute for Educational TrajectoriesUniversity of Applied Sciences Upper AustriaJohannes Kepler University LinzColors convey meaning and can impair intellectual performance in achievement situations. Even the processing of color words can exert similar detrimental effects. In four experiments, we tried to replicate previous findings regarding the processing of the word “red” (as compared to a control color) on cognitive test scores. Experiments 1 and 2 (Ns = 69 and 104) are direct replications of Lichtenfeld, Maier, Elliot, and Pekrun (2009). Both experiments failed to uncover a red color effect on verbal reasoning scores among high school students and undergraduates (Cohen’s d = 0.04 and –0.23). Experiments 3 and 4 (N = 103 and 1,149) failed to identify an effect of processing red on general knowledge test scores (Cohen’s d = 0.19) and 0.01) among undergraduates and adults. Together, these results do not corroborate the assumption that processing the word red impairs intellectual performance.https://www.collabra.org/articles/277red colorcognitive performanceintelligencegeneral knowledge |
| spellingShingle | Timo Gnambs Carrie Kovacs Barbara Stiglbauer Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts Collabra: Psychology red color cognitive performance intelligence general knowledge |
| title | Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts |
| title_full | Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts |
| title_fullStr | Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts |
| title_short | Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts |
| title_sort | processing the word red and intellectual performance four replication attempts |
| topic | red color cognitive performance intelligence general knowledge |
| url | https://www.collabra.org/articles/277 |
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