Relationships among spatial skills, communication skills, and field independence in deaf students.
The hypotheses that deaf students would be more field-dependent than hearing students and that their competence in communication skills would be positively related to field-independence were supported for a group of 77 male and 67 female deaf students. Step-wise multiple regression analyses of the data showed that for females spatial skills followed by communication skills were significant predictors of field-independence; for males spatial skills followed by the extent of hearing loss were significant predictors of field-independence. Sex differences found on tests of field-independence and spatial relations were consistent with those obtained from the hearing population. It was suggested that socialization experiences and competence in communication skills may influence development of field-independence in deaf students.
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D012951:Socialization; D013028:Space Perception