Information processing habits that represent an individual’s typical modes of perceiving, thinking, remembering, and problem solving. Various
cognitive styles have been identified, measured, and shown to affect the manner in which individuals perceive their environments. As just one example, two such
styles are field-independence and field-dependence. Field-independent individuals perceive objects as separate from the field, impose personal structures on the environment, set self-defined goals, work alone, choose to deal with abstract subject matter, are socially detached and rely on their own values, and are self-reinforcing. In contrast, field-dependent individuals tend to rely on the environment for clues about an object, prefer a structure provided by the environment, experience the environment more globally, are interested in people, use externally defined goals, receive reinforcement from others, focus on socially oriented subject matter, and prefer to work with others ( Riding & Rayner, 1998 ; Witkin, Moore, Goodenough & Cox, 1977 ).
Learn more in:
Gender and Computer Anxiety