Cognitive styles and web-based instruction: Field Dependent/Independent vs. Holist/Serialist

Natalie Clewley, Sherry Y. Chen, Xiaohui Liu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

As Web-based instruction (WBI) becomes increasingly popular, designers are faced with the challenge of identifying the varying preferences of learners and accommodating them in WBI programs. Cognitive style has been shown to have a significant effect on users' preferences for WBI. In particular, Witkin's Field Dependent/Independent has been widely studied in this area. It has been suggested that this cognitive style has conceptual links with the rarely studied Pask's Holist/Serialist dimension. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between these two cognitive style dimensions by using a data mining approach that integrates feature selection and decision trees. The results show that in general Field Dependent users and Holists show the same preferences for WBI, as do Field Independent users and Serialists. However, this study also highlights the similarities in preference between Field Dependent users and Serialists, and Field Independent users and Holists. The findings of this study contribute towards the understanding of Field Dependent/Independent and Holist/Serialist users' preferences. Additionally, a novel data mining methodology is proposed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings 2009 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, SMC 2009
Pages2074-2079
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event2009 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, SMC 2009 - San Antonio, TX, United States
Duration: 11 Oct 200914 Oct 2009

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics
ISSN (Print)1062-922X

Conference

Conference2009 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, SMC 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Antonio, TX
Period11/10/0914/10/09

Keywords

  • Cognitive style
  • Data mining
  • Decision trees
  • Feature selection
  • User preferences
  • Web-based instruction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cognitive styles and web-based instruction: Field Dependent/Independent vs. Holist/Serialist'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this