Imagery, cross-cultural comparison of abilities betwen Native American and Caucasion adults.

Abstract

Fifty Caucasian adult males and females were compared with 50 Native American adult males and females to determine If there were differences In abilities in Imagery, imagination, and creativity. The Thematic Apperception Test <TAT) card #16 which Is the "blank card" was chosen as the measure because of the potential for stimulus ambiguity. A modified version of Betts Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery (the Qfv11) was used to assess the Individual imagery abilities on the TAT card #16 responses in fourteen specified factor areas of outline-shape-and size, color, form-feature, distance-location, light, movement, auditory senses, cutaneous skin, gustatory, olfactory, organic, feelings of relation, feelings of effort, and personal feelings. Responses were evaluated by two raters on a seven point Likert Scale from a perfectly clear image (1) to no image at all (7). The study was derived from a theoretical position that because Native Americans are associated with a tribal heritage of visualization and stroytelling processes they might more easily adapt to Imagery techniques. This position was not supported by the evidence in this project. The overall null hypotheses that there were no significant differences between the two populations in their creative ability to image as measured by the TAT card #16 and the OMI was accepted. Differences of content did occur on specific comparisons of OMI factors. Individual item analysis of ethnicity revealed the Caucasian population gave significantly more detailed responses in the factor category of color. Other differences in the factor categories of form and feature and light (slightly more detailed for Caucasians) and auditory senses (slightly more detailed for Native Americans) were not considered large enough to be of any real significance. The results would lead to the conclusion that overall, there were very few differences in the individual responses of the two ethnic groups and no measurable differences in the ability to image between Native American and Caucasian adults.