Stroop Test as a Predictor of Driving Mistakes

• Published in: Archives of clinical neuropsychology 2014-09, Vol.29 (6), p.527-527
• Main Authors: Spengler, K, Babika, C, Sterk, V, Yassin, S, Golden, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0887-6177; 1873-5843
• DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acu038.65

Objective: The researcher examined the relationship between the Stroop test and the total amount of driving mistakes made on a driving simulator in male and female adults. Method: The sample consisted of male (n = 42) and female (n = 71) adults (mean age = 26.25, SD = 8.783; mean education = 15.12, SD = 2.045; 64.6% Caucasian; 19.5% Hispanic/Latino; 9.7% African-American). The data were derived from an ongoing de-identified database of clinical patients and student volunteers. All three of the Stroop subtests and the total amount of driving mistakes were examined in this study. Results: A regression analysis was conducted between Stoop test scores and the total driving mistakes that occurred on the driving simulator. Results of this analysis were considered significant at the p < 0.01 level. None of the individual subtests of the Stroop were statistically significant, but the Stroop test as a whole was significant suggesting that scores on the Stroop test are a predictor of driving mistakes on the driving simulator, F(7, 112) = 2.865, p = .01, r super(2) = 0.160. Conclusion(s): The Stroop test, which measures attention and inhibition, is a predictor of total driving mistakes made on the simulator. This result could be due the fact that those with less inhibition, make more impulsive decisions when driving, causing them to make errors. It is possible that those who have less inhibition tend to get into risky driving situations. Although some of these results were significant, further research is still needed.