CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN COGNITIVE-STYLE - FIELD-DEPENDENCE VS FIELD INDEPENDENCE

Citation
P. Engelbrecht et Sg. Natzel, CULTURAL VARIATIONS IN COGNITIVE-STYLE - FIELD-DEPENDENCE VS FIELD INDEPENDENCE, School psychology international, 18(2), 1997, pp. 155-164
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Educational
ISSN journal
01430343
Volume
18
Issue
2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
155 - 164
Database
ISI
SICI code
0143-0343(1997)18:2<155:CVIC-F>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
Research by Herman A. Witkin reports that one aspect of cognitive styl e, namely field dependence/field independence, is affected significant ly by socialization and child-rearing practices. The present cross-cul tural project, using the Children's Embedded Figures Test, examined th e cognitive style of 100 African American and 100 Black South African males and females in grades 4 and 5. Hierarchical loglinear models wer e utilized to uncover the complex relationships between gender (males and females), culture (African Americans and Black South Africans) and learning style (field dependence and field independence). The results were significant and suggest that African Americans are more likely t o be using a learning style characterized by field independence and Bl ack South Africans are more likely to be using a learning style charac terized by field dependence. No differences were found relative to gen der for either group or for the two groups combined. Although no forma l cross-cultural research has previously been done relative to cogniti ve style in the context of these two groups, the findings are consiste nt with the overall theoretical and historical research relative to fi eld dependence and field independence.