A Study on Learning Styles and Their Possible Effect on Academic Performance Among University Students in Glasgow

Abstract

Purposes: To explore the preference of various learning styles of university students, the possible impact of different learning styles on academic performance, and the possible variables which may influence students' academic performance in Glasgow, the UK. Methods: A case exploratory study approach where 40 university students (16 females and 24 males) both British and international ones with the age range (18-35) participated with filling in a self-completion questionnaire by convenience sampling. Results: The findings indicated that kinaesthetic learning style was males' learning style preference while females preferred using visual learning style; additionally, international students preferred using visual learning style whereas kinaesthetic learning style was British students' preference with learning style. Moreover, different learning styles affected academic performance due to different subjects. Kinaesthetic learning style had a better academic performance for engineering students, while visual learning style performed better for educational students. In terms of variables, age, gender and personality all might influence academic performance. Conclusions: Learning styles seem to be impacted by major of study, gender, personality, behavioural and experimental research may result into more credible evidences about the impact of learning styles on academic performance and also the possible differences between existing learning style and learning style preference as shown in our presented model (diagram 1).