Sensation-seeking motive and field independence.

Abstract

Two studies (6, 7) have reported significant relationships bemeen field independence and stimulation-seeking. The interest in the possible relation of these variables is based on the notion that the stirnulation- or sensation-seeker is es~eciallv sensitive to internal bodily sensations and that field independence is in part a measure of such sensitivity. In the first study, Thurstone's (3) group form of the Embedded-figures Test correlated .49 (p < .01) with scores on the Sensation-seeking Scale (6) for males, and .22 for females. In the second study the average time score on Witkin's (4) Embedded-figures Test correlated -.33 (P < .05) with the Sensation-seeking Scale for males, with the latter also being correlated -.42 (p < .01) with the error score on the rod-and-frame test for the same Ss. No females were tested in this study. One study (1) has reported no significant relationships between field independence and stimulation-seeking, using the rod-and-frame test and the Sensation-seeking Scale on separate groups of males and females. Thus, for females no significant relationship between sensation-seeking and field independence has been demonstrated in two attempts, whereas for males three of four attempts have shown significant relationships, with two of the three employing a form of an Embedded-figures Test. The present study adds further data, using a more recent group test of field independence, the Hidden-figures Test (2) and the Sensation-seeking Scale. Correlations (product-moment) between the two variables for 30 females and 30 males in undergraduate courses on human learning and abilities were .07 and .12 respectively. Thus, the present results for the Hidden-figures Test are congruent with those of Bone and Choban (1) for the rod-and-frame test in showing no significant field independ- . ence/sensation-seeking relationship for either sex. It appears that only Zuckerman and his associates (6, 7) have found significant relationships between sensation-seeking and field independence (males). It seems likely that this relationship is not a reliable one for females and may not be for males, and therefore probably contributes little to explicating the nature of either variable.