In this investigation of the effects of field dependence-independence (FDI), general mental ability, previous music experience, and gender on music listening, 148 students enrolled in a college introductory music class recorded observations about eight music excerpts. After 1 week and again after 2 weeks, subjects used their observations to identify the excerpts. A series of multiple-regression analyses was used to examine the unique contributions of the four subject variable sets to the explanation of variance in excerpt identification (EI) scores. The regression of all sets accounted for 30.9% of the variance in EI scores. FDI, as measured by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), uniquely accounted for 9.1% of the variance in EI scores. General mental ability, as measured by the ACT, uniquely accounted for 6.3% of the variance in EI scores. Experience and gender each explained less than 1 % of the unique variance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barry, N. H. (1992). The effects of practice strategies, individual differences in cognitive style, and gender upon technical accuracy and musicality of student instrumental performance. Psychology of Music, 20, 112–123.
2.
Cattell, R. B. (1971). The structure of intelligence in relation to the nature-nurture controversy. In R. Cancro (Ed.), Intelligence: Genetic and environmental influences. New York: Grune & Stratton.
3.
Ciepluch, G. M. (1988). Sightreading achievement in instrumental music performance, learning gifts, and academic achievement: A correlational study (Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin, 1988). Dissertation Abstracts International, 49, 1398A.
4.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. (1983). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
5.
Cronbach, L. J. (1984). The essentials of psychological testing (4th ed.). New York: Harper & Row.
6.
Cronbach, L. J., & Snow, R. E. (1977). Aptitudes and instructional methods. New York: Irvington.
7.
Ellis, M. C., & McCoy, C. W. (1990). Field dependence/independence in college nonmusic majors and their ability to discern form in music. Journal of Research in Music Education, 38, 302–310.
8.
Goldstein, K. M., & Blackman, S. (1978). Cognitive style: Five approaches and relevant research. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
9.
Grieve, T. D., & Davis, J. K. (1971). The relationship of cognitive style and method of instruction to performance in ninth grade geography. Journal of Educational Research, 65, 137–141.
10.
Heidand, K. W. (1982). Cognitive styles and musical aptitudes: An exploratory study (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University, 1982). Dissertation Abstracts International, 43, 2534A.
11.
Huang, R. F. (1983). Interaction of field dependence and prior achievement with instructional treatments in music ear training (Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa, 1982). Dissertation Abstracts International, 43, 2588A.
12.
Humphreys, J. T., May, W. V., & Nelson, D. J. (1992). Research on music ensembles. In R. Colwell (Ed.), Handbook of research on music teaching and learning. New York: Schirmer.
13.
Jonassen, D. H., & Grabowski, B. L. (1993). Handbook of individual differences, learning, and instruction. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
14.
King, D. W. (1983). Field dependence/field independence and achievement in music reading (Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin— Madison, 1983). Dissertation Abstracts International, 43, 2534A.
15.
Kornicke, L. E. (1993). An exploratory study of individual difference variables in piano sight-reading achievement (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University, 1992). Dissertation Abstracts International, 53, 4125A.
16.
Machlis, J. (1991). The enjoyment of music. New York: W. W. Norton.
17.
Mason, K. E. (1991). The phenomenon of paired learning styles as manifested in middle school instrumental music students' music reading achievement (Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1991). Dissertation Abstracts International, 52, 1248A.
18.
McKenna, F. P. (1984). Measures of field dependence: Cognitive style or cognitive ability?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 593–603.
19.
Messick, S. & Associates. (1976). Individuality in learning: Implications of cognitive style and creativity for human development. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
20.
Messick, S. & Associates. (1976). Individuality in learning: Implications of cognitive style and creativity for human development. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
21.
Olson, I. (1988, April), Perceptual field-dependence/independence correlates of listening skills and attitude set. Paper presented at the National Biennial In-service Conference of the Music Educators National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
22.
Olson, I. (1989, February). Perceptual style correlates of listening skills of eighth grade students. Paper presented at the Symposium for Research in General Music, University of Arizona (Tucson).
23.
Osborne, A. M. (1989). The interaction of field-dependence/independence, instructional methodology, and achievement in harmonic dictation skills (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University, 1988). Dissertation Abstracts International, 49, 2959A.
24.
Phillippi, R. H. (1992, May). Just what does the ACT Assessment and ACT/COMP measure anyway? Paper presented at the Annual Forum of the Association for Institutional Research, Atlanta.
25.
Schmidt, C. P. (1984). The relationship among aspects of cognitive style and language-bound/language-optional perception to musicians' performance in aural discrimination tasks. Journal of Research in Music Education, 32, 159–168.
26.
Schmidt, C. P., & Lewis, B. E. (1987). Field-dependence/independence, movement-based instruction and fourth-graders' achievement in selected musical tasks. Psychology of Music, 15, 117–127.
27.
Snow, R. E. (1980). Aptitude and achievement. New Directions for Testing and Measurement, 5, 39–59.
28.
Wachtel, P. L. (1972). Field dependence and psychological differentiation. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 35, 179–189.
29.
Wilkins, E. M. (1980, March). American College Testing Program scores as an index of intelligence. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Michigan Educational Research Association.
30.
Willett, B. E., & Netusil, A. J. (1989). Music computer drills and learning styles at the fourth-grade level. Journal of Research in Music Education, 37, 219–229.
31.
Witkin, H. A., & Goodenough, D. R. (1981). Field dependence and interpersonal behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 84, 661–689.
32.
Witkin, H. A., Oltman, P. K., Raskin, E., & Karp, S. A. (1971). A manual for the embedded figures test. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
