The Role of Field Dependence and Independence in Visual Search

Research has shown that individuals are faster at searching for the presence of features in displays than the absence of features. The present study was designed to examine whether differences in the ability to search for the presence and absence of features are moderated by differences in the ability of individuals to perceive separate parts of the visual field as distinct from the background (field dependence/independence). In addition, spatial ability was examined to assess its relationship to field independency. Participants were administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) and were divided into field dependent and field independent groups based on their GEFT scores. They then searched displays for targets that contained or did not contain a specific feature. It was hypothesized that field independent as opposed to field dependent individuals would have faster search times for targets that lack a feature because of more efficient serial processing mechanisms. The results showed that searches for targets containing the feature required significantly less time than targets that lacked the feature. There was also a trend for faster response times to feature absent targets among field independent individuals; however, this finding did not reach significance. Furthermore, field independency was found to be positively associated with spatial ability. These findings may have implications for selection processes that concern serial processing tasks. If efficient visual search is desired under conditions that warrant serial search mechanisms, identification of individuals who can search more quickly during effortful processing may be optimal. The WAIS may be useful for identifying individuals who perform visual search tasks more efficiently when serial processing is required.