Stroop interference in Chinese and English

Abstract

This study examined whether Chinese and English orthographies would bring about a different Stroop effect. Eighty-five right-handed participants belonging to Chinese-English bilingual and English monolingual groups were invited to participate. The Stroop Color-Word Test - Victoria version (VST) and the Chinese version of the VST (CST) were the outcome measures. The bilinguals completed both the VST and CST, whereas the monolinguals performed only the VST. The results in both between- and within-group comparisons revealed no significant difference in Stroop effect no matter whether Chinese or English orthographies were used. This does not support the orthographic variation hypothesis and suggests that Chinese orthography does not generate a greater Stroop effect than English orthography.