The evaluation of accuracy in closed and open environments: An approach of cognitive style

Witkin claimed that field independence could be an advantage for participants in closed skills and environments، while field dependence could be an advantage for participants in open skills and environments. For further confirmation، the present study performed to examine the throwing accuracy of field dependent-independent participants in closed and open environments. The Group Embedded Figure Test (GEFT) distributed among 320 male students، and at the result، base on their GEFT scores، 90 participants placed into three groups of field dependent، neutral، and field independent (30 participants in per groups). The study was performed in closed and open environments (45 participants in each environment). The study task included dart throwing in each environment. Participants throw 10 darts in pretest stage. In acquisition stage، participants throw 60 darts in 6 blocks of 10 trials. The retention test included a block 10 trial which performed at 24 hours after acquisition stage. After checking the dates normality using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and equality of variances using Levenes test، dates analyzed with factorial variance analyze with repeated measure، two- way variance analyze test، and Bonferoni Post Hock test statistical methods. The results indicated that there were significant difference among groups in acquisition (F=5. 35، P=0. 006) and retention (F=4. 46، P=00. 01) stages. Field dependent participants showed better performance both closed and open environments in acquisition and retention stages than field dependent and neutral participants. The study only partially confirmed the Witkins field dependent-independent theory.