Cognitive Style and Interpersonal Problem Solving Ability among 5-, 7-, and 9-year-olds

아동의 인지양식과 대인 문제 해결력 - 5세, 7세, 및 9세 아동을 대상으로 -

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. $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ 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.