Abstract
M.A. (Psychology)
The concept of field dependence-field independence was developed
by H.A. Witkin. Witkin and almost all subsequent researchers implicitly
assumed that field dependence and field independence are
bipolar opposites of a single underlying continuum. Resent research
(O'Hara, 1985), however, suggested the possibility that
field dependence and field independence are two independent constructs.
The principal goal of the present study was to determine the cognitive
and personality correlates of field dependence and field
independence.
To investigate the stated problem, a battery of 21 psychometric
tests was administered to a stratified sample of 303 first year
university students at the Rand Afrikaans University. The battery
consisted of the newly constructed Field Dependence Inventory,
Hidden Figures Test, Social Intelligence Test, Pattern Relations
Test, and Jackson Personality Inventory.
In order to ascertain whether the sample of students could be
classified into (more than two) natural classes in terms of field
dependence and field independence, a cluster analysis was performed.
The Field Dependence Inventory served as a measure of
field dependence, and the Hidden Figures Test, as a measure of
field independence. These tests were used as input variables to
the cluster analysis.
Four classes were established. Differences in means between the
four classes, in terms of the cognitive variables, were investigated
by means of the Social Intelligence Test, and Pattern Relations
Test. Personality differences were investigated by means
of the Jackson Personality Inventory.
The differences in means between the four classes, were investigated
by means of a multivariate analysis of variance, one-way
analyses of variance, and Scheffe's multiple comparisons...