Learning Styles in Students of Medical Sciences

Abstract

<p><strong>INTRODUCTION: </strong>learning is a human’s natural tendencies; therefore, the identification of factors affecting it, is very important in fixing problems and deficiencies in educational systems. One of the factors contributing to students’ academic achievement and increased learning outcome is to identify their learning styles leading to better and more satisfying learning. The aim of the present study was to examine learning styles in students of Medical Sciences.</p><p><strong>METHODOLOGY: </strong>The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 417 students of Medical Sciences selected based on cluster random sampling method in the academic year 2015-2016. The data were collected through a two-part questionnaire. The first part was consisting students’ demographic characteristics. The second part was validated VARK questionnaire to categorize learning styles in the students. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, Chi-square test and ANOVA in SPSS version 19.0</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The results showed the following average scores for students’ learning styles: read/write learning style (7.21±1.52), kinesthetic learning style (6.59±0.97), visual learning style (6.23±1.00), auditory learning style (6.00±0.84) and multiple learning styles (5.25±1.00). The results showed no significant relationship between students’ demographic characteristics and their learning styles (p>0.05).</p><p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Based on the results of this study, the most preferred learning style by medical students was the read/write style. Most university teachers believe that the cause of students’ academic failure is lack of studying; however, this failure may be due to a mismatch between students’ learning styles and teachers’ teaching styles. In view of that, one of the requirements for appropriate education is to examine students’ learning styles at the beginning of each educational year and apply appropriate teaching styles accordingly.</p>

A Comparative Questionnaire-based Study on Learning Styles and Studying Resources among Undergraduate Medical Students in Public and Private Universities

“…Another study by Ojeh et al, among preclinical medical students in Barbados (2014) using the validated VARK questionnaire, showed that most preclinical medicals students are multimodal learners [10]. Furthermore, similar conclusions on learning styles have been reported by other studies [11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…With regards to UMST, the results were also not in line with that of Joshi et al In their study, which was done in a private university, it was found that the preferred learning style was multimodal [15], which contradicts the results obtained in this study, in which the dominant style was unimodal (Read/Write). However, Shahrakipour et al's study [11] showed the same results. Interestingly, learning styles show variations among different schools, and educators need to assess their students' learning styles in teaching and learning and in discussing examination results.…”

“…The majority of university lecturers assume that the reason behind students' educational poor performance is the lack of hard work and study; however, this poor performance could occur due to a discrepancy between students' learning styles and instructors' instructing method. In view of this, one of the important factors for applicable education is to look at students' learning styles at the start of every academic year and apply pertinent instructing technique accordingly [11]. In light of this, while comparing a public (OIU) university with a private one (UMST), the preferred learning modality for OIU students was found to be aural which is not the same as preferred learning method (kinesthetic) found in a public University by Jmanai et al [14].…”