Final answer:
Determining if preferences for science and foreign language are independent would require statistical studies specifically designed to evaluate this relationship, while accounting for various influencing factors such as cultural attitudes and individual interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether preferences in science and foreign language are independent is a matter of examining statistical evidence. Studies like those conducted by Johns Hopkins University and other researchers have suggested a range of influences on education and cognitive development, including the benefits of bilingual education and the impact of language on cognition. However, to assert independence between the preferences for science and foreign language, one would need to conduct studies specifically designed to evaluate whether one's preference in one field is related to their preference in the other field. Factors such as cultural attitudes, required curricula, and individual interests could all play a role and would need to be controlled for in such a study.
Regarding the question of choosing science or foreign language studies, educational systems and researchers have various views. Linguistic determinism and bilingual education research have shown that being proficient in more than one language can influence cognitive abilities and potentially, academic preferences. Still, statistical evidence of the independence of preferences would require focused research on this specific aspect.