FLC OF A MLT ACFT DEVIATED FROM A SID CLRNC BY TURNING THE WRONG WAY. IT IS NOT CLR THAT ANY DEV OCCURRED IN THIS INCIDENT.

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TKOF ON RWY 4L AT NEWARK INTL; DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO FLY NEWARK 4 DEP AND CLB TO 6000 FT MSL. ON TKOF WHILE IN A R TURN TO 060 DEGS; IN COMPLIANCE WITH SID; WE CHKED IN WITH NY DEP CTL. DEP CTL ASSIGNED US A HDG OF 220 DEGS. THE SID CALLS FOR A R TURN TO 060 DEGS TO 4 DME THEN A L TURN TO 290 DEGS. WHAT I RECALL HEARING WAS; 'TURN TO HDG OF 220 DEGS.' AS THE SID CALLED FOR A L TURN TO 290 DEGS; I ASKED THE TAC AND CREW CHIEF WHETHER HE SAID R TURN; AS A R TURN WAS THE SHORTEST DIRECTION; 160 DEGS OFF THE R. MY TAC REPLIED; 'R TURN.' AFTER PASSING THROUGH A HDG OF APPROX 100 DEGS; DEP TOLD US TO TIGHTEN OUR TURN IF POSSIBLE. PASSING THROUGH APPROX 160 DEGS AND 5500 FT MSL; DEP SAID; 'CONTINUE R TURN TO 270 DEGS; THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A L TURN; MAINTAIN 5000 FT.' IN DISCUSSING THE DEP WITH THE CREW CHIEF AND TAC; THEY FEEL CERTAIN THEY HEARD; 'R TURN TO 220 DEGS.' I DON'T RECALL HEARING A DIRECTION STATED AND CONTINUED MY TURN IN THE SHORTEST DIRECTION TO 220 DEGS. LESSONS LEARNED: TKOF IS A BUSY AND COMPLICATED PHASE OF FLT. WHEN ALL CREW MEMBERS ARE BUSY AS WELL AS LISTENING TO CTLRS WE OFTEN HEAR WHAT WE THINK WE WANT TO HEAR. WHEN IN DOUBT; ASK! IF DEP CTLRS DESIRE SID COMPLIANCE THEY SHOULD AVOID ISSUING A HDG UNTIL THE TURN IN THE PROPER DIRECTION IS INITIATED. PARTICULARLY IF THE TURN IS FOR GREATER THAN 180 DEGS. IF; IN FACT; THE CTLR DID NOT ISSUE A L TURN INSTRUCTION HE SHOULD HAVE.