Cognitive Performance under Different Environmental Conditions
Faculty Sponsor
Anna Marie Medina, Gonzaga University
Research Project Abstract
When you are stressed about an upcoming test, do you prefer to study in a noisy coffee shop or in a silent library cubicle? Our research examined how well or poorly students perform on cognitive tasks in different environmental conditions. Participants were given a Stroop test and assigned at random either a noise or no noise condition. Participants completed pre- and post-test questionnaires to evaluate their perceived stress. We found a main effect for high stress and errors, as well as a marginal statistically significant interaction between initial stress and assigned condition.
Session Number
RS12
Location
Robinson 210
Abstract Number
RS12-a
Cognitive Performance under Different Environmental Conditions
Robinson 210
When you are stressed about an upcoming test, do you prefer to study in a noisy coffee shop or in a silent library cubicle? Our research examined how well or poorly students perform on cognitive tasks in different environmental conditions. Participants were given a Stroop test and assigned at random either a noise or no noise condition. Participants completed pre- and post-test questionnaires to evaluate their perceived stress. We found a main effect for high stress and errors, as well as a marginal statistically significant interaction between initial stress and assigned condition.
