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PROBLEM SOLVING AS A FUNCTION OF RACE AND INCARCERATION
Abstract
A 2 x 2 quasi-experimental design with two levels each of race (black, white) and environment (incarcerated, non-incarcerated) was employed to test subject's interpersonal problem-solving abilities and field-dependent/independent performance. Three dependent variables were employed in the study: The Means-Ends Problem Solving Procedure, the Problem Solving Inventory, and the Embedded Figures Test. One hundred non-incarcerated and incarcerated males responded to all three dependent instruments. Testing was performed in small groups which lasted an average of one hundred minutes. An analysis of covariance procedure was employed with age, intelligence, and socio-economic status as covariants to control for the effects of non-equivalence of groups. The results indicated that environment had little effect upon problem-solving abilities. However, results strongly suggest that incarcerated subjects tend to view themselves as having more confidence in their ability to solve problems. There were interesting findings related to race. Whites were found to generate more irrelevant and no-means to interpersonal problematic situations than did blacks. Blacks were found to generate fewer total alternative means to interpersonal problems than did whites. There were no significant differences between black and white groups on relevant means which indicated no differences in the quantity of high quality means generated. Blacks perceived themselves as using a more systematic approach and perceived themselves as slightly more confident in their ability to solve problems than did whites. On the other hand, whites perceived themselves as significantly less impulsive than blacks in use of problem solving abilities. These findings are contradictory to previous research which may have resulted from the nature of the three scales on the Problem Solving Inventory. Problem-solving style or acquiescence were postulated as what was possibly being measured by this instrument. Blacks were found to be more field-dependent than whites. Implications for further crosscultural research on problem solving is suggested.
Subject Area
Educational psychology
Recommended Citation
INGRAM, JESSE CARVER, "PROBLEM SOLVING AS A FUNCTION OF RACE AND INCARCERATION" (1981). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8118162.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8118162