Skip to main content
Log in

Field independence, academic orientation, and achievement

  • Articles
  • Published:
Current Psychological Research & Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) of field independence was administered to 203 Jamaican sixth form (pre-university) students pursuing advanced-level (A-level) courses with either an arts or a science emphasis. The science-emphasis group obtained significantly higher scores on the GEFT than the arts-emphasis group. In addition, field independence was found to be important for the A-level success of students, regardless of whether they pursued arts- or science-emphasis courses. The implication of this finding to education at advanced level is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bloom, B.S. (Ed.). (1956).Taxonomy of educational objectives. Book 1. Cognitive Domain. New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entwistle, N.J. (1977). Strategies of learning and studying. Recent research findings.British Journal of Educational Studies, 25 (3), 225–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entwistle, N.J., & Hounsell, D.J. (Eds) (1975)How students learn: Readings in higher education (1). Institute for Research and Development in Post-Compulsory Education, University of Lancaster.

  • Field, T.W., & Poole, M.E. (1970). Intellectual style and achievement of arts and science undergraduates.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 40, 338–341.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, L. (1963). The relation of psychological test scores to academic bias.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 33, 120–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leo-Rhynie, E.A. (1978).An investigation into the relationship of certain cognitive, environmental, experiential and motivational variables to the academic achievement of selected Jamaican Sixth form students. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of the West Indies.

  • Marton, F., & Saljo, R. (1976a). On qualitative differences in learning I: Outcome and process.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 46 (1), 7–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F., & Saljo, R. (1976b). On qualitative differences in learning II: Outcome as a function of the learner’s conception of the task.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 46 (2), 115–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oltman, P.K., Raskin, E., & Witkin, H.A. (1971).Group embedded figures test. Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc., California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, W.G. (1970).Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years: A scheme. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roach, D.A. (1978).The effect of cognitive style and other related variables on the achievement in mathematics of some Jamaican elementary school children. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of the West Indies.

  • Roberge, J.J., & Flexer, B.K. (1981). Reexamination of the covariation of field independence, intelligence and achievement.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 51, 235–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satterly, D.J. (1976). Cognitive styles, spatial ability and school achievement.Journal of Educational Psychology, 68, (1), 36–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satterly, D.J. (1979). Covariation of cognitive styles, intelligence and achievement.British Journal of Educational Psychology, 49, 179–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, P.E. (1969).Intelligence and cultural environment. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, P.E. (1972). The distinctiveness of field independence.Journal of Personality, 40, 366–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Witkin, H.A. (1973).The role of cognitive style in academic performance and in teacher-student relations. Educational Testing Service, Research Bulletin (mimeo).

  • Witkin, H.A., Dyk, R.B., Faterson, H.F. Goodenough, D.R., & Karp, S.A. (1962).Psychological differentiation. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkin, H.A., & Moore, C.A. (1974).Cognitive style and the teaching-learning process. Princeton, N.J.: Educational Testing Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkin, H.A., Moore, C.A., Oltman, P.K., Goodenough, D.R., Friedman, F., Owen, D.R., & Raskin, E. (1977). Role of the field dependent and field independent cognitive style in academic evolution: A longitudinal study.Journal of Educational Psychology, 69 (3), 197–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Witkin, H.A., Oltman, P.K., Raskin, E., & Karp, S.A. (1971).A manual for the embedded figures test. Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc., California.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leo-Rhynie, E. Field independence, academic orientation, and achievement. Current Psychology 4, 22–27 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686563

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686563

Keywords

Navigation