An ecological analysis of A-B and its relationship to field dependence

Because of conceptual and methodological problems of the A-B categorization, several authorities (Gomes-Schwartz, Hadley, & Strupp, 1978; Stephens, Shaffer & Zlotowitz, 1975) have suggested that a moratorium on A-B research deserves serious consideration. In anticipation of this possibility, and to attempt to clarify the confusing findings with regard to the nature of A-B and the relationships of A-B and Field Dependence, the authors initiated this study of the ecological framework of a psychiatric ward and the role characteristics of both staff and patients (N = 99). The results of the study supported the two major hypotheses that were derived from a functional analysis of the demand characteristics for both patients and staff on an inpatient psychiatric unit. First, it was found that the staff scored higher on type A characteristics than on type B characteristics and, second, it was found that the patients scored higher on type B characteristics than on type A characteristics.