@phdthesis{discovery10020142,
          school = {Institute of Education, University of London},
            note = {Thesis: PhD  CDEP University of London Institute of Education, 1982.},
            year = {1982},
           title = {An investigation into the relationship between childrens cognitive style and their perception of the environment.},
        abstract = {This study considers relationships between the cognitive style
identified by Witkin et al (1964) (ie analytic/field independence,
as opposed to global/field dependence) and children's perceptions of
their environment. Arising from a review of the literature, a Nariety
of hypotheses were examined through an empirical investigation with
481 children aged between 10 and 13 and drawn from a rural and an
urban environment.
The results of the study raise questions about the conceptual
inadequacy and empirical validity of the style identified by Witkin
and further whether the tests used to identify the style can explain
performance on map and environmental exercises. The inter correlations
between the three measures of cognitive .style used in the study were
comparatively low (Embedded Figures Test (E2T) with Rod and Frame Test
(RFT) 0.4290 p{\ensuremath{<}} 0.01, Pnbedded Figures Test with Articulation of Body
Concept Scale (ABC) 0.4392 p {\ensuremath{<}}0.01, RFT with ABC 0.3448 D {\ensuremath{<}}0.01) and
the most regularly used measure of this particular cognitive style in
previous research (FT) correlated more highly with intelligence
(0.5982 p {\ensuremath{<}}0.01) particularly perceptual reasoning (0.5616 p-{\ensuremath{<}}0.01)
and spatial ability (0.7333 p{\ensuremath{<}}0.01) than with RFT and ABC. In the
investigation of 25 specific research hypotheses, a more positive
relationship was demonstrated with the result of the Embedded Figures
Test than with those of the RFT and ABC and it is suggested that this
can be explained in terms of general intellectual ability. Sintlarly
performance on the measures of environmental perception and mapping
skill employed in the study appeared to be considerably influenced by
general intelligence and more especially perceptual reasoning. The
strong spatial/intellectual bias of the relationships identified in
the research were confirmed in a principal components and multiple
regression analysis of the results.
In a follow up study of a representative group of extreme analytic/
field independent individuals and extreme global/field dependent
individuals it was possible to identify children who demonstrated
capacitieS as described by Witkin, which were not dependent upon
ability. In general however, intelligence was the major differentia-
ting factor betwee'n the two groups.
Specific findings related to each of the research hypotheses
are discuesed in detail in the text. The main findings of the study
however appear to question the existence of the cognitive style
identified by Witkin and the expectation of an association be tween
cognitive style and environmental perception was not confirmed.},
          author = {Conner, Colin.},
             url = {http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?did=1&uin=uk.bl.ethos.306988}
}