Final answer:
The slowest response time in the Stroop task is when the color word does not match the ink color, such as the word 'red' written in blue ink. This leads to cognitive interference and slower reaction times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question concerns the Stroop task, which is a psychological test that demonstrates interference in reaction time when performing a task. In the Stroop task, the slowest response time typically occurs when the name of a color word is printed in a different ink color (e.g., the word "red" printed in blue ink), as the cognitive interference makes it more difficult to process the actual color of the ink (blue) while ignoring the incongruent word ("red"). Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option 4: The word red in blue ink. The interference is less in other conditions, such as when the color of the ink matches the word, or when non-color word characters (like a row of Xs) are shown.
The condition that will produce the slowest response time in the Stroop task is The word red in blue ink. In the Stroop task, participants are asked to name the ink color of a word, while ignoring the word itself. This creates a conflict between the automatic reading of the word and the controlled processing of the ink color. When the word and the ink color are incongruent, such as when the word 'red' is written in blue ink, it takes longer for participants to resolve the conflict and respond accurately.