Abstract

A field idependent cognitive style is thought to be characterized by a) relative ease in disembedding objects from their background; b) handling disembedding problems in an analytical manner; c) utilization of cognitive restucturing skills and d) the ability to articulate visual and vestibular information. These charcteristics would appear to be advantageous in the performance of those sports which place great demands on an individuals information processing ability. Research has, however, failed to unequivocally establish such a relationship. It is suggested that the relationship between Field Independence (FI) and sport performance may be affected by the fact that in sport, information processing takes place in a moving environment and often in a very short period of time whereas tests of FI are relatively static and allow comparatively more time before a decision must be made. Similarly it is possible that sporting situations may not be as complex as those faced by subjects in tests of FI. Verf.-Referat