Embedded Figures Test

The Embedded Figures Test (EFT) is a measure of individual differences in how surrounding fields influence a person's perception (i.e., the ability to avoid the confusion of conflicting perceptual cues). Although the EFT is a cognitive task, its relation to personality is the primary interest. During his research on perception, Witkin noticed that people varied markedly in their abilities to perform on the Rod and Frame Test and in a task judging body orientation in a tilted room. To demonstrate these same perceptual differences in a paper-and-pencil format, Witkin chose materials Gottschaldt used in his studies of the role of past experiences in perception. For these materials, one identifies a simple figure, previously seen, within a larger, more complex figure. Witkin chose 8 of Gottschaldt's simple figures and 24 of his complex figures. Preliminary experiments demonstrated an insufficient number of difficult examples using this material. Using the same principles of patterning to [Page 314]create new figures proved ineffective, so Witkin used coloring to reinforce patterns. This obscured the simple patterns and increased difficulty. The primary goals in the final selection of materials for the EFT were achieving a graded difficulty and containing sufficient variety of simple figures to reduce the potential for practice effects.

The EFT is administered individually and consists of 24 trials, each using different complex figures and never using the same simple figures in 2 successive trials. During each trial, the figures are presented separately in the sequence of complex figure, simple figure, then complex figure. This pattern is used to impress upon the participant the complex figure and discourage the participant from concentrating on the simple figure at its expense, thereby increasing difficulty. The administrator notes the time at which the participant verbally indicates he or she has identified the simple figure and continues timing until the participant successfully traces it within the complex figure. The score is the time at which the participant verbally indicates he or she has identified the simple figure, provided it is confirmed correct. The total score is the summation of the time to complete all trials. Lower scores are considered field independent, and higher scores are considered field dependent.

It has been shown that people are consistent across trials in their abilities to locate simple figures, indicating that personal factors, not the structure of the field alone, are responsible for the individual differences observed. Also, Witkin noted a sex difference, with men outperforming women. There are relationships to other tests, including concept formation tests and intelligence tests, which have generated debate as to whether the EFT is a measure of cognitive ability or cognitive style. Relationships to measures of general intelligence support the ability thesis. Supporting the style thesis, comparisons with the Vigotsky Test show that field dependents are related to those who use the perceptual approach and field independents are related to those who use the conceptual approach.