Effects of cognitive style on digital jigsaw puzzle performance: A GridWare analysis
Cognitive style, a personal characteristic that is a combination of cognitive controls such as field independence (FI) and field dependence (FD), may influence game performance. FI and FD were measured in 210 5th-grade students using a Group Embedded Figures Test. Students assembled digital jigsaw puzzles based on maps of Taiwan and Europe. Using principles of dynamic systems, game performance was analyzed using GridWare, and four types of game strategy were identified. The results showed that cognitive style, based on FI and the number of events, was able to predict digital jigsaw puzzle scores. Digital jigsaw puzzle scoring was positively correlated with FI. FI students achieved significantly higher scores than FD students. Practical implications and limitations were discussed.
cognitive style digital jigsaw puzzle gridware field independence field dependence game strategy