MMPI Correlates of Extreme Field Independence and Field Dependence in a Psychiatric Population

1975 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vance Stansell ◽  
Larry E. Beutler ◽  
Charles W. Neville ◽  
Dale T. Johnson

34 male and 34 female hospitalized psychiatric patients were divided into field-independent and field-dependent groups on the basis of rod-and-frame test performance and their MMPI scores were compared. A multiple discriminant analysis followed by a series of 2 × 2 factorial analyses of variance was used to assess the results. As in previous studies, more similarities than differences were found between the two cognitive styles. However, field-independent subjects tended to be more unconventional, aggressive, antisocial, and perhaps defensive than field-dependent subjects. Explanations of results were explored in reference to previous findings.

1975 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter M. Pawelkiewicz ◽  
Walter G. Mc Intire

The field independence-dependence and self-esteem of 200 preadolescent boys and girls were studied using the Portable Rod-and-frame Test and the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. Analysis of variance indicated that field-independent children had significantly higher self-esteem than middle-range and field-dependent individuals. A small significant correlation between field independence and high self-esteem obtained (–.24) but only for boys.


1968 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 1007-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Arthur Sugerman ◽  
Robert Cancro

Relationships are examined between field-independence as measured by Series III of the rod-and-frame test in 51 recently hospitalized schizophrenics and outcome 6 mo. later in terms of presence in or out of hospital. An earlier attempt to find a linear relationship between field independence and outcome had proved unsuccessful; however, on the basis of more recent findings, a U-shaped relationship, predicting a poor outcome for extremely field-dependent and extremely field-independent Ss, was predicted and found. Optimal cutting-points assign 39 patients correctly; the most successful predictor in the earlier study, Phillips' scale of premorbid adjustment, had assigned 36 patients correctly. Combining these two measures and predicting a poor outcome for only those patients with extreme field-articulation and poor premorbid adjustment 42 of the 51 patients are assigned correctly. The post hoc nature of findings and the necessity for confirmation are stressed.


1969 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 299-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Solar ◽  
Gerald Davenport ◽  
Dieter Bruehl

To test Witkin's hypothesis that field-dependent individuals are socially compliant, 10 field-dependent and 10 field-independent Ss were selected on the basis of their performance on the Thurstone Embedded-figures Test and the Rod-and-frame Test (RFT). Each field-dependent S was then paired with a field-independent S and asked to cooperate in setting the rod to true vertical in the RFT. The obtained mean displacement from true vertical of the pair working together was in every case in the direction of greater field independence than the mean of the scores for the two individuals working alone ( p < .001, sign test). However, a posttest indicated that the RFT conformity of field-dependent Ss was confined to the paired situation. The Barron Independence of Judgment Scale significantly differentiated between field-dependent and field-independent Ss. The findings support Witkin's hypothesis that field-dependent Ss are socially compliant.


1986 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Birger Hansson ◽  
Olof O. Rydén ◽  
Per Johnsson

Previous authors have pointed out that, while the classic Rod-and-Frame Test (RFT) yields a measure of ability to perform field-independently, it is unsuitable for identifying stylistic preference, such as mobility-fixity within the field-dependence/independence dimension. To relate mobility-fixity and ability aspects of field-dependence/independence, we compared data obtained from two versions of the test: one with a “free” instruction, on which the subjects were invited to adjust the rod to any position(s) they preferred on each of 10 trials and a process-oriented version (RFT-P), involving 20 trials with the standard instruction but with a constant rod-and-frame configuration, making possible analysis of the process of adaptation. Mobility versus fixity was defined in terms of more or less frequent changes of rod positions and choice of a high or a low proportion of nongeometrical positions in the RFT-Free. 38 female and 23 male university students completed first the RFT-Free and thereafter the RFT-Process. Women were more field-dependent than men throughout the RFT-Process trials; there were no differences between the sexes over trials or in choice of positions in the RFT-Free. Compared with field-dependent subjects, field-independent subjects mote often changed rod positions in the RFT-Free and preferred nongeometrical positions somewhat more. Among field-independent subjects, those with consistently low deviations in RFT-Process more often preferred a variety of nongeometrical positions in RFT-Free than did those with gradually increasing deviations. We conclude that field-independence is associated with mobility and field-dependence with fixity, as defined by the RFT-Free variables, and that a prerequisite for high mobility is a relative stability of field-independence as reflected on the RFT-Process. Theoretical implications of this conclusion are discussed.


1968 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 863-869
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Astrup

2 groups of student miners were tested on the Witkin Rod-and-frame Test, twice on the same day, once before a shift and once after a shift underground. Group 1 had worked for 6 mo. underground at the time of testing; they were more field-independent ( p = .02) than Group 2, and their scores did not change on re-test. Group 2 had worked a maximum of 2 wk. underground and their scores improved ( p = .005) after a shift underground. It was concluded that the environment was effective in producing a change in the test performance of Group 2. The difference between the two groups on a measure of field dependence was interpreted to suggest that shifts toward field independence could, possibly, become stable with repetitions of experiences of sensory reduction.


1967 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
James V. Spotts ◽  
Bernard Mackler

138 undergraduate males were administered individual and group measures of perceptual field-independence. Most Ss were also administered two measures of intelligence and a battery of tests of creativity. Comparisons were made of the creative test performance of 3 groups of 15 Ss each, matched for Otis IQ and drawn from field-dependent-, field-central-, and field-independent- S categories. Similar comparisons were made with independent groups drawn from the same perceptual orientation groupings. It was predicted that field-independent Ss would obtain higher scores on tests of creative ability than would field-dependents. A significant relationship was also predicted between Ss' scores on the individual and group measures of field-independence. Individuals with field-independent cognitive styles were consistently more creative on the tasks used in this study than individuals with field-dependent orientations. Significant differences between the creative test performance of these two groups were obtained in both matched and independent group comparisons. Relationships between creativity and intelligence were weak and typically nonsignificant. Factor analysis of all test scores for 114 Ss revealed six creativity factors and one factor composed of IQ and perceptual test scores. Significant relationships were found between individual and group measures of field-independence. Both measures of perceptual-field orientation were significantly correlated with factors commonly measured in intelligence tests. However, the degree of association between field-independence and IQ was influenced by the loadings of quantitative factors in the operational measures of intelligence employed. Some of the theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.


1981 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore T. Y. Hsieh

Christian college students classified as either Word or Spirit-oriented through a questionnaire were tested with the Rod and Frame Apparatus. Word-oriented subjects were found to be field-independent and Spirit-oriented subjects to be field-dependent in their perceptual style. No sex difference on field-dependence or independence was found within either the Word-oriented or the Spirit-oriented groups, but a significant difference in sex distribution of Word or Spirit-orientation was found. Socialization and sex role expectation effects in the churches and implications for these findings and further studies were discussed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 33 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1191-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph-M. De Koninck ◽  
Geneviève Crabbé-Declève

It was hypothesized that field-independent Ss would produce more white space figure-ground reversal responses (S) on the Rorschach test than field-dependent Ss. From 27 females and 25 males given the rod-and-frame test the 7 most field-independent and the 7 most field-dependent took the Rorschach test. The 7 field-independent Ss produced more white space reversals. A control on the number of reversal responses as a function of time of exposure and a control on sex differences showed no contaminating effect. Thus, both measures may refer to the same dimension.


1977 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curt Hoffman ◽  
Spencer Kagan

29 male and 28 female undergraduates were administered two measures of Witkin's field-dependence dimension—the Portable Rod-and-frame Test and the Group Embedded-figures Test—and a test of facial recognition. Field-independent males were significantly more accurate in the recognition of photographed human faces than field-dependent males. Field-independent females were also more accurate than field-dependent females, although the relation was nonsignificant. While it has often been claimed that field-dependent individuals remember faces better, the results of the present study, as well as others which have examined this relationship, support the opposite conclusion.


1974 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 1239-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey H. Blowers

Rod-and-frame errors are thought to reflect differential abilities in selective attention. For this reason a study of the relationship of field dependence to distraction should involve Ss whose field-dependence scores have been determined specifically by the rod-and-frame test. It is thought that discrepancies in the results of previous work might be accounted for by lack of consistent use of these scores. The present study involved distraction in a simple reaction-time paradigm using 10 field-dependent and 10 field-independent Ss. There was no correlation between distraction and field dependence although it may be that a larger difference in field-dependence scores between groups is required to detect differences in susceptibility to distraction.


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