Perception of Differences and Similarities: Is it a Cognitive Perception Style?

Abstract

The study goal was to investigate the perception of the differences and the similarities as cognitive perception style among male and female teachers and Hashemite University students. an instrument was developed to measure the differences and similarities, as a cognitive perception style, contained of three domains: geometric shapes, human faces, and life situation. Face validity and retest reliability were used. The tool contained 30 items; 10 items for each domain. The tool was applied to the study sample of 352 participants, 200 of them were students at Hashemite University, 96 male and 104 female, 152 teachers, 74 males and 78 females at Zarka Public schools during the scholastic year 2007-2008. For answering the study questions, means, standard deviation and “MANOVA” tests were computed. Results showed a tendency to perceive differences more than similarities, in general. Significant differences appeared in perceiving differences, but not similarities , at less than 0.05 level, in favor of both: teachers and males. Differences were also had been found in the three domains according to the study variables. Perceiving differences, was concluded as a cognitive style. Some recommendations had been suggested.