A Study on the Correlation among FD-FI Cognitive Style, Working Memory Capacity and English Reading Performance among College EFL Learners

Abstract

In the past few decades, there have been eminent interests in reading performance as essential means for language input. In view of that, extensive studies have been conducted to explore the factors that affect reading performance from various aspects. In the cognitive psychology field, some studies have examined the relationship between field dependent-field independent (FD-FI) cognitive styles and working memory capacity (WMC) on English reading, respectively. However, only limited studies focused on the correlation among FD-FI cognitive styles, WMC and English reading performance. Therefore, this study was conducted to explain these correlations. A total of 42 intermediate “English as Foreign Language” (EFL) learners participated in this study. In order to measure the learners’ FD-FI cognitive style, WMC and English reading performance, the Cognitive Style Figures Test, reading span task and the International English Language Test System (IELTS) reading test were adopted, respectively. Data analyses such as Pearson’s correlation, independent sample t-test and two-way ANOVA were done using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 25. The results suggested a statistically significant correlation between FD-FI cognitive style and WM with English reading performance, respectively. The main effect of WM and FD-FI cognitive style is significant while the interaction between them is not significant in reading performance.