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The field dependence/independence cognitive style does not control the spatial perception of elevation
Todd E Hudson1, Wenxun Li, Leonard Matin
1Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. hudson@cns.nyu.edu
Perception & Psychophysics
|August 12, 2006
Summary
Cognitive style, measured by the Embedded Figures Test (EFT), does not influence visually perceived eye level (VPEL) discrimination, despite previous links to spatial perception. This suggests cognitive disembedding is not general for egocentric space perception.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Perception
Background:
- Previous research linked performance on the Rod-and-Frame Test (RFT) and Embedded Figures Test (EFT) to a cognitive style dimension of field dependence/independence.
- This cognitive style was believed to be crucial for disembedding visual information and was also correlated with visually perceived eye level (VPEL) discrimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the field dependence/independence cognitive style influences visually perceived eye level (VPEL) discrimination.
- To determine if cognitive spatial abilities, as measured by EFT, Gestalt Completion Test, and Snowy Pictures Test (SPT), are related to VPEL discrimination.
Main Methods:
- 18 subjects performed VPEL discrimination tasks with a pitched visual field across various angles.
- Subjects also completed the EFT, Gestalt Completion Test, and SPT to assess cognitive spatial abilities.
- Multiple-factor analysis was used to examine the relationships between VPEL, perception of visual pitch (PVP), and cognitive factors.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between the three cognitive tests (EFT, Gestalt Completion Test, SPT).
- However, none of the cognitive tests significantly correlated with the slope of the VPEL-versus-pitch function.
- Multiple-factor analysis revealed three independent factors: VPEL, PVP, and a cognitive factor, with cognitive tests loading solely on the cognitive factor.
Conclusions:
- The cognitive-processing style involved in EFT and RFT performance is not general for egocentric space perception.
- Specifically, this cognitive style does not appear to involve the perception of elevation, as demonstrated by its lack of influence on VPEL discrimination.
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