Relationship between Cognitive Style and Gender of Science and Art Cadets in Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between cognitive styles and gender of science and arts cadets in Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. Two null hypotheses guided the study. Correlational survey design was used for the study. The population was 215 part 3 science and arts cadets of the academy out of which a sample of 50 students was selected through simple random sampling technique. Hidden Figures Test (HFT) was the instruments used to identify the cognitive styles (field independent or field dependent). Independent t test was used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that there was no significant difference in the cognitive styles (field independence-field dependence) of science and art cadets in NDA Kaduna. Similarly, the independent t test revealed no significant difference between cognitive styles of male and female cadets of NDA. Based on the findings, it was recommended that deliberate effort should be made to identify students’ cognitive styles so that adequate planning can be made to take care of these individualistic differences for proper subject placement and specialization