Field dependence‐independence in Navajo children

Abstract

Twenty Navajo boys and 20 Navajo girls 9 1/2 years of age were administered the Children's Embedded Figures Test. Mean scores were compared to Anglo normative scores for the same age range taken from Witkin et al. (1971). In contrast to previous research and hypothesized results, the Navajo sample scored significantly higher in a field independent direction than the Anglo sample. A multi‐factor explanation comprised of genetic, environmental, experiential and linguistic factors unique to the Navajo is suggested to account for this outcome.