Field Dependence and Field Independence: what are they?
We explain what are these cognitive styles that have been studied from Psychology.
Cognitive styles are mental patterns that guide our perception and allow us to manipulate and organize information in a specific way.
There are many types, but one especially investigated is that of Field Dependence and Field Independence by Herman Witkin. of Herman Witkin.
In this article we will learn what is meant by cognitive style; we will see that it goes beyond cognition, and we will learn the fundamental differences between field-dependent and field-independent. In addition, we will know how this cognitive style can be assessed.
What are cognitive styles?
Field Dependence and Field Independence are two cognitive styles.. Generally, people have one of these two styles, although it may be that sometimes we use one more than the other, but we have both.
But what are cognitive styles? They are specific and differentiated ways of perceiving external information. Moreover, they include not only its perception, but also its management, its organization, its processing and the way of remembering such information.
In other words, cognitive styles are mental patterns in charge of perceiving and organizing the information that comes to us through the senses (sensory systems). It includes, on the other hand, the way we solve problems.
Field Dependence and Field Independence
Thus, there are different cognitive styles, always bipolar concepts: verbalizing vs. visualizing style, holistic vs. analytical style, leveling vs. sharpening style, tec. Specifically, the cognitive style of Field Dependence and Field Independence was proposed by Witkin.
This style refers, broadly speaking, to how we process information: whether in a global and holistic way (field dependence) or in an analytical, detailed and concrete way (field independence).
Thus, field-dependent people perceive stimuli as a whole, as unitary blocks of reality; on the other hand, field-independent people tend to isolate the different parts that make up the objects or stimuli. They isolate and analyze them in detail, leaving aside the context in which the stimulus is immersed.
That is to say, When we look at a painting, for example, what do we look at? At its details separately? Or at the whole painting, as a whole? If we look at the details, leaving the rest of the image "aside", we have an independent field style; on the other hand, if we look at the painting as a whole, ignoring the specific parts, we have a dependent field style.
What does this style allude to?
In other words, Field Dependence and Field Independence also have to do with how we handle and/or organize the information in the environment, and what we do with each one of them.and what we do with each of the parts of the totality of a stimulus that we receive through one of our senses (in this case, sight).
Aspects in which they differ
But Field Dependence and Field Independence do not only allude to how we perceive stimuli and how we organize our perception.
It also alludes to characteristics of our personality and other aspects such as feelings or emotions. We are going to see the differences between these two cognitive styles, analyzing some of the parameters or aspects that are part of their characteristics and that are proposed by Jonassen and Grabowsky (1993).
1. Interpersonal relationships
Thus, while people with a field-dependent style tend to be more oriented to interpersonal relationships and social relationships in general, field-independent people focus more on themselves, on their intrapersonal relationships.
That is, field dependents are more in need of social contact, and field independents tend to be more solitary and more reserved. On the other hand, while the former seek and need that affiliation, those personal relationships, the latter do not seek them, and are more distant and individualistic.
2. Social information
On the other hand, and in line with the previous point, dependent people tend to pay more attention to social information and people; on the other hand, this type of information goes more unnoticed by independent people. They therefore focus on other aspects of a non-social nature.
3. Information management
Another difference in relation to Field Dependence and Field Independence is that the dependent style is characterized by people who accept ideas as they are presented, i.e., they do not try to analyze them as independents would do; thus, the latter not only "receive" information (passively), but also manipulate and analyze it in detail.
Stress management
Field dependents tend to be more easily stressed by external stimuli, while independents are not; they are not affected as much, in fact they ignore it.
5. Conflict management
Dependents are more practical, move to action more quickly, and tend to try to solve and resolve the conflicts they encounter. However, independents are more philosophical, think more before they act, are more cognitive and therefore tend to think about problems rather than act on them.
In addition, dependents are guided more by facts, by the tangible, and dependents are guided more by ideas and concepts.
6. Influence of stimuli
Continuing with the aspects that differentiate the styles of Field Dependence and Field Independence, we find that the former are more influenced by the structure and format of the stimuli. This has to do with their more global analysis of the information. In contrast, Field Independents are not so influenced by these elements.
On the other hand, the dependent ones look more at what stands out from the environment, and the independent ones are more in charge of developing internal hypotheses and focusing more on what they themselves generate.
How is it assessed?
The test of excellence for assessing field dependence and field independence is the W. W. W. W.'s Masked (or Hidden) Figures Test. (or hidden), by Witkin, Oltman, Raskin and Karp (1971). This test consists of presenting two figures to the subject: a simple figure and a complex figure. The subject is asked to find the simple figure in the complex figure.
How will the subjects act, according to their cognitive style? Field-dependent subjects will tend to present difficulties in finding the simple figure in the complex figure, since it is more difficult for them to isolate the constituent elements of the figures, and they focus more on the totality of the stimuli. That is, it is more difficult for them to separate the elements from their context.
On the other hand, field independents have an easier time doing so, which is why it will be easier for them to identify the simple figure within the complex one, presenting better results than field dependents in this sense.
Conclusions
Field Dependence and Field Independence is a cognitive style that encompasses not only cognitive processes, but also emotional processes and personality aspects. These differences have been found after much research has been done on the subject, since cognitive styles are a particularly useful area to know about in learning psychology, basic psychology and cognitive psychology.
As we have seen, field-independent people are more free from context, more able to break free from it and observe the details of the reality presented to them. Dependents are more context-driven, and in fact often need it to solve problems.
On the other hand, although people tend to have one of these two predominant styles, it is true that sometimes we may use a little of the other, depending on the task, the objective and the context of the task.
Bibliographical references:
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García Ramos, J.M. (1989). Los estilos cognitivos y su medida: estudios sobre la dimensión dependencia-independencia de campo. Madrid: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.
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Jonassen, D.H. and Grabowsky, B.L. (1993). Handbook of Individual Differences, Learning and Instruction. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
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Ramos, J.M. (2006). Assessment of the cognitive style "Field dependence/independence" in the context of anxiety problems. Clinica y Salud, 17(1).
(Updated at Apr 12 / 2024)