Field dependence, perceptual restructuring, egalitarian attitudes, and anxiety in traditional and nontraditional sex-typed career choices

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to relate field dependence/independence, perceptual restructuring, anxiety, and attitudinal factors to career choice as exemplified by individuals choosing traditional versus nontraditional sex-typed careers. Subjects were 240 undergraduates from majors in six areas: Architecture, Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, and Science. Within each major there were 20 males and 20 females. All subjects were administered four major tests: the Group Embedded Figures Test, (GEFT), the Trait Scale of the State -Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS), and a test of perceptual restructuring which consisted of measuring the number of perceived reversals of six ambiguous geometric figures that were displayed for 60 sec each. On the GEFT there was no sex difference, but there was a significant difference among the groups. The most field dependent group was education, and the most field independent groups were architecture and engineering. Perceptual restructuring was significantly correlated with field dependence. Those students who perceived the greatest number of figural reversals were the most field independent. There was no sex difference on perceptual restructuring. The engineering students perceived the greatest number of figural reversals, and the business students the fewest. There were no significant sex or group differences on the STAI, which was significantly correlated with both the GEFT and perceptual restructuring. Those students who were most field independent and who perceived the greatest number of reversals displayed the least amount of anxiety. On the AWS there was a significant sex difference as well as a significant group difference. In all groups, females were more egalitarian or profeminist than the males in their attitudes. The most egalitarian groups were architecture and liberal arts, and the least egalitarian were business and science. There was no significant correlation between the AWS and the other three measures. The implications of these data for career counseling were discussed, and the suggestion was made that in the future counselors should express less reluctance to recommend careers in nontraditional sex-typed areas for both sexes.