The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) children`s field dependence by age and sex, (2) children`s interpersonal problem solving ability by age, sex, and contextual factors, (3) children`s interpersonal problem solving ability by field depend...
The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) children`s field dependence by age and sex, (2) children`s interpersonal problem solving ability by age, sex, and contextual factors, (3) children`s interpersonal problem solving ability by field dependence. The subjects were 120 five-, seven-, and nine-year-olds. Children`s field-dependence was measured with the Children`s Embedded Figures Test (CEFT). Children`s interpersonal problem solving ability was measured with the Preschool Interpersonal Problem Solving Test (PIPS Test). Statistical methods adopted for data analysis were frequencies, percentiles, means, standard deviation, t-test, oneway ANOVA. Scheffe′ test and Pearson`s correlations. Major findings were that (1) The older children were more field-independent than the younger ones (2) The older children suggested more problem solving methods and higher-level problem solving strategies than the younger ones. (3) Children suggested higher-level problem solving strategies in contexts involving familiar as opposed to unfamiliar participants and contexts involving children as opposed to adults. (4) 9-year-olds` field-independence was positively associated with interpersonal problem solving ability.