Color–Word Stroop Interference Among Japanese Preschoolers1

Abstract Stroop–reverse‐Stroop interference is a phenomenon based on word‐reading skill acquisition, especially the original color–word interference task. Few studies have examined preschool children, probably because early childhood school education is a requirement for the occurrence of Stroop–reverse‐Stroop interference and because of difficulties in application to young children. However, many Japanese students have begun to acquire word‐reading skills in preschool. To estimate the age at which Stroop interference occurs, standardized Stroop–reverse‐Stroop interference tests were conducted of 58 kindergarten children using a blinker board to facilitate attentional stability. Results revealed the presence of Stroop interference among participants in the 4–5‐year and 5–6‐year age groups, although no reverse‐Stroop interference was found. Developmental perspectives related to an older age group for Stroop–reverse‐Stroop interference are discussed.