LIN 3042 Applied Linguistics · Linck et al. (2009) tasks
4 · Simon task
Background check · cognitive ability (inhibitory control) about 2 minutes
AI disclaimer. Content guided by Tommie Juzek; built upon his prompting by an AI assistant (Claude Opus 5.5, Anthropic); reviewed and approved by Tommie Juzek.
Its role in the study
Background check: cognitive ability (inhibitory control). Not a test of the hypothesis, and not about language. It measures how well you hold back a response that the situation pulls you towards. The paper’s theory is about inhibition, so this check matters: were the groups alike in general inhibitory control? Not quite (38 against 20 ms, Table 1; the classroom group did better). The authors say that, if anything, this works against their conclusion.
How it works
A coloured square appears to the left or the right of a +. Answer by its colour only:
- a blue square: tap Blue, the left button (on a laptop, F);
- a yellow square: tap Yellow, the right button (J).
Where the square appears does not matter. As fast as you can, with as few mistakes as you can.
Six practice trials first, each with an explanation, then 48 for real (about a minute and a half).
The article: Linck, J. A., Kroll, J. F., & Sunderman, G. (2009). Losing access to the native language while immersed in a second language: Evidence for the role of inhibition in second-language learning. Psychological Science, 20(12), 1507–1515. Free version