Selective Attention in College Students With and Without Learning Disabilities: Identification of Incongruent Emotional Stimuli

Author

Adrienne R. Wolfe, Longwood University

Date of Award

1998

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Liberal Studies

First Advisor

Peggy L. Tarpley, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Patricia R. Whitefield, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Linda Tennison, Ph.D.

Abstract

Students with LD may show deficiencies in selective attention, both visual and auditory, which can affect interpretation of social situations. The Stroop Test is often used to gauge selective attention to congruent and incongruent visual stimuli. In this experiment , the Stroop Test, and a similar researcher­ conducted task based on the depiction of emotions paired with congruent and incongruent words and an emotional task, involving emotional words paired with incongruent pictures depicting people with different facial expressions, were presented to college students with and without LD. The reaction times, and the number and types of correct and incorrect answers made during the tasks were recorded on answer sheets . Students with LD were expected to need more time, and make more errors and corrections in all conditions than students without LD especially in imcongruent conditions. Although students without LD took more time in the picture, ink color, and incongruent conditions, the differences were more extreme for students with LD.

Recommended Citation

Wolfe, Adrienne R., "Selective Attention in College Students With and Without Learning Disabilities: Identification of Incongruent Emotional Stimuli" (1998). Theses & Honors Papers. 227.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/etd/227