Performance of Field-Independent and -Dependent College Students, and Their “Fixed” and “Mobile” Subtypes, on Two Formats of a Cognitive Task

Abstract

This study compared the performance of 101 college students classified as field-independent and -dependent, who were also divided into “fixed” (or rigid) and “mobile” (or flexible) subtypes. The divisions were based on the median-split technique being applied to the students' scores on the Group Embedded Figures Test and the Breskin Rigidity Test. The dependent variables were performance on the open-answer and multiple-choice versions of a complex cognitive task, Gorham's Proverbs Test. As expected, field-independent subjects outperformed field-dependent ones on both versions, and the field-independent-fixed subtype tended to outperform the other three subtypes (field-independent-mobile, field-dependent-fixed and -mobile). Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for further research are provided.