22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Are Leet Digits Processed as Numbers When Embedded in Number Words?
Examining Stroop-like Interference in a Number Comparison Task
Mallory C. Stites* and Karen M. Rohrer
Dr. Karen Vittengl, Faculty Mentor
This study addresses the processing of leet digits, or digits replacing similar-looking letters in words, by embedding digits in number words (e.g. THR3E). Twenty-three participants were asked to judge the magnitude of either the embedded digit or the number word relative to six to determine whether they are processed as strictly letters, numbers or both. Results from a repeated measures ANOVA showed that subjects were slowest to judge the targets when the embedded digit and number word were on opposite sides of six, which cued for two competing responses. The fastest response times were when the embedded digit matched the number word. These findings suggest that the magnitudes of the embedded digits are accessed while simultaneously reading the digit as a letter. The findings also suggest that digit and word processing, although fundamentally different mechanisms, can interact to either speed or slow processing in the other domain.
Keywords: word processing, number processing, Stroop task, automaticity
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 3-2
Location: PML
Time: 4:15