Research into context dependency in calculation capability and its relation to field dependent cognitive style

Abstract

We investigated context dependency in calculation capability and its relation to both field dependent and field independent cognitive types. We conducted research using EFT, along with mathematics and science tests. The mathematics tests were composed of calculations of a linear function, and the science tests were based on Boyle's laws. Both the mathematics and science tests were composed of two questions, and the figures used in the calculations for both tests were the same. We separated the students into two types according to the results of the EFT. The students who received a high grade on the EFT were classified as the field independent cognitive type, and the students who received a low grade on the EFT were classified as the field dependent cognitive type. We compared the results of the EFT with those of the mathematics and science tests. The results were: many students of the field independent cognitive type got the correct answer to the questions on both the mathematics and science tests, whereas many students of the field dependent cognitive type answered the mathematics questions correctly, but didn't get the correct answers to the science questions. Therefore, we think that field dependent cognitive types have a tendency to depend more on context.