A Comparison of Cognitive Styles Used by Female and Male Students of Computer and Human Sciences

The present study aims to compare the cognitive styles used by female and male students of the fields of computer and human sciences in Qurveh town. This was a causal-comparative (ex-post facto) research. Using multi-stage cluster sampling method، 152 subjects (including 76 girls and 76 boys) were selected from among all students of technical schools as well as high schools. The subjects were asked to complete the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT)، Factorial Analysis of Variance Test، and the Kolmogorov Test. The data was analyzed using the Smirnov Test. The results showed that there was a significant difference in cognitive styles between students of computer and human sciences، and also between male and female students. Cognitive styles of computer students and male students were respectively more field-independent compared to human sciences students and female students. But there was no significant interaction between gender and field of study on one hand، and cognitive styles on the other hand. The results of this study confirmed the theories proposed by Witkin (1981) and Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda (1982).