According to Wikipedia:
“cognitive style or “thinking style” is a term used in cognitive psychology to describe the way individuals think, perceive and remember information, or their preferred approach to using such information to solve problems. Cognitive style differs from cognitive ability (or level), the latter being measured by aptitude tests or so-called intelligence tests. Controversy exists over the exact meaning of the term cognitive style and also as to whether it is a single or multiple dimension of human personality. However, it remains a key concept in the areas of education and management. If a pupil has a similar cognitive style to his/her teacher, the chances that the pupil will have a more positive learning experience is said to be improved. Likewise, team members with similar cognitive styles will probably feel more positive about their participation in the team. While the matching of cognitive styles may make participants feel more comfortable when working with one another, this alone cannot guarantee the success of the outcome”.
Just to show you how this all works, you are going to take the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT-20) So as not to spoil their impact, we will review the significance of this instrument after you take it. So, without much further explanation, here is how this assignment is going to work.
Do This:
You are being asked to take the MFFT-20 as a class assignment. The problem for us is that the test is run as an executable file that we have to download to our PC computers. Unfortunately, this program only works on a PC at this point. Hopefully, you can get access to a PC (not a MAC).
Downloading executable files is problematic due to all the spammers out there trying to access you computers. So, we have to fool the system into allowing you to download the file. I have renamed the file with a phony “.fil” extension to allow it to be downloaded. Once you get the file you can rename it by changing the extension from ‘.fil’ to ‘.exe’. Your computer will object to all of this and throw up lots of warnings that you can safely override. (Usually a prompt will appear saying something like “Read for More Information’ or ‘Advanced’ etc.
Follow these steps.
- Click here to download the kagancog.fil file.
Depending on your settings it will be downloaded to your download folder or to your Desktop. You may leave the file wherever it lands. - Open the downloaded file’s location (usually if you are using Chrome there is a small circle icon at the top right). Right click that icon and answer the prompt that say show in location.As noted, the file will be named kagancoc.fil.
- Rename the file kagancog.exe. You will probably get a warning message. Ok to ignore it is safe.
- It is ok to run this file, even if Windows objects. You may get an error or warning. It is Ok to ignore that warning and Rename and then open the program file using the .exe extension anyway.
- It will open a file with this icon:
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- Follow the instructions contained in the program:
- Open the file. Use your last name to log in.
- The instructions for the program are found with in the file.
- You are to match the picture in the top left of each screen with an exact likeness from the six choices. Make your choices. The system will tell you if you are correct or not each time. If you are correct, you will be allowed to proceed to the next picture (20 pictures in all). If not, the it will loop back the same question until you get it correct.
- As the name MFFT20 implies, there are twenty sets (plus two easy example sets for practice).
- When you are completed, you may close the program.
- In the same folder you ran the program (either your desktop or downloads) will be a folder called ‘prefs’:
Inside that folder is a file called lastname.txt.
- Follow the instructions contained in the program:
Upload the lastname.txt file to the drop box in Canvas. I will post points for your completing this activity. In a later class we will go over the results as a group. This activity is not graded but points will be awarded for completion.