Cognitive Styles—an overview and integration

TLDR

Researchers have used a variety of labels to describe cognitive styles. This review examined the nature of styles and strategies and surveyed existing work on cognitive styles. The authors described a computer‑presented method for assessing individuals’ positions on the Wholist‑Analytic and Verbialiser‑Imager dimensions. Analysis indicated that styles can be grouped into two principal cognitive styles: Wholist‑Analytic and Verbialiser‑Imager.

Abstract

Abstract This review article considered the nature of styles and strategies and then surveyed work on cognitive styles. Different researchers have used a variety of labels for the styles they have investigated. Analysis of the way in which they assessed style, its effect on behaviour and performance, and studies of the relationship to other labels, suggested that the labels may be grouped into two principal cognitive styles. These were labelled the Wholist‐Analytic and Verbialiser‐Imager dimensions. A computer presented method of assessing the position of an individual on these dimensions was described.