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Field Dependence-Independence in Second-Language Acquisition: Some Forgotten Aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Carolina Tinajero  and
Fernanda Páramo
Carolina Tinajero*
Affiliation:
University of Santiago de Compostela
Fernanda Páramo
Affiliation:
University of Santiago de Compostela
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Carolina Tinajero, Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación. Facultad de Psicología.Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Campus Universitario Sur. 15706 – Santiago de Compostela (Spain). E-mail: pecativa@usc.es
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Abstract

This study examined the role of sex and intelligence in the relationship between field dependence-independence and second language acquisition for a sample of 383 students (187 girls and 196 boys) aged between 13 and 16. The Portable Rod and Frame Test (PRFT) and the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) were used to evaluate cognitive style. A two-way covariance analysis, with intelligence as the covariate, was employed to investigate differences in second language achievement between students classified as either field-dependent or field-independent. A cluster analysis using z scores was examined to study the performance of subjects classified as either field-dependent or field-independent according to scores obtained on the EFT and the PRFT (“coincident” subjects) and those classified as field-dependent in one test and field-independent in the other (“non-coincident” subjects). No statistically significant differences between the two groups were obtained when cognitive style was defined by scores on the PRFT. When field dependence-independence was measured by scores on the EFT, field-independent girls performed better than field-dependent girls (p < .005), but this outcome was not observed for boys. These results suggest a differential contribution of the “perceptive” and “cognitive” components of field dependence-independence and a modulating role by sex.

En el presente estudio se examina el papel del sexo y de la inteligencia en la relación de la dependencia-independencia de campo con la adquisición de una segunda lengua en una muestra de 383 chicos y chicas de entre 13 y 16 años. Se utilizó el Portable Rod and Frame Test (PRFT) y el Embedded Figures Test (EFT) para evaluar el estilo cognitivo. Se aplicó un analisis de covarianza de doble vía, con la inteligencia como covariable, con el objetivo de comparar el rendimiento de dependientes e independientes de campo. Además, se realizó un análisis de conglomerados con las puntuaciones típicas para explorar el rendimiento de los sujetos clasificados como dependientes o independientes de campo según el EFT y el PRFT (“coincidentes”) y aquéllos clasificados como dependientes de campo en una prueba e independientes de campo en la otra (“no coincidentes”). No se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en rendimiento según las puntuaciones en el PRFT. Clasificados los sujetos según el EFT, las chicas independientes de campo rendían mejor que las dependientes de campo (p <. 005), lo que no ocurría entre los chicos. Estos resultados sugieren una contribución diferencial de los componentes “perceptivo” y “cognitivo” de la dependencia-independencia de campo y un efecto modulador del sexo.

Keywords

cognitive stylefield dependence-independencesecond-language acquisitionestilo cognitivodependencia-independencia de campoadquisición de una segunda lengua
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 1 , May 1998 , pp. 32 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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