The Problem of Carryover Effects (2 of 2)

previous


Consider an experiment comparing the time it takes to read a list of color names with the time it takes to name colors. If a within-subjects design is used, then all subjects are tested in both conditions. Carryover effects are certainly possible in this design. The second task performed may be performed better because of some kind of practice effect or because subjects have become primed to say color names. alternatively, the second task performed may be performed worse because subjects have become tired or bored. However, in either case, the carryover effects would likely be symmetric.

Counterbalancing can be used to control for symmetric carryover effects. In this experiment, this means simply that half of the subjects would be given the color-name-reading task before the color-naming task and the other half of the subjects would be given the color naming task first.


previous