Characteristics of cognitive styles and control functions in adult gamers

Abstract

The results of empirical study of cognitive style characteristics such as field dependence / field independence, impulsivity / reflexivity, rigidity / flexibility and cognitive control in active gamers vs. non-gamers are presented in the article. 145 adults (mean age: 24 ± 5 years) took part in the study, 88 of them played computer games on a regular basis and 57 of them (control group) did not played computer games for at least 3 years. Standard methods were used to measure cognitive styles of the subjects: H.Witkin Embedded Figures Test, J.Kagan Familiar Figures Test, J.Stroop Color-Word Test. Theoretically the study was based on cognitive styles theory and quadripolar cognitive style structure hypothesis of M.A.Kholodnaya. The study showed that computer gamers were significantly more field independent and more reflective than non-gamers. There were no significant differences in rigidity / flexibility of cognitive control between the groups. The revealed characteristics of cognitive styles in computer gamers are supposed to be connected with involuntary cognitive control mechanisms that might be developed together with computer gaming experience, as it was reported in some literature sources.