The sensory modality used for learning affects grades

Abstract

Second-year undergraduated students from 2008, 2009, and 2010 cohorts were asked to respond a questionnaire to determine their learning style preferences, the VARK questionnaire (where V is visual, A is aural, R is reading-writing, and K is kinesthetic), which was translated into Spanish by the author. The translated questionnaire was tested for wording comprehension before its application in the actual study. Using the results of the VARK questionnaire, students were classified as unimodal or multimodal and according to the first preferred sensory modality used for learning as V, A, R, or K learners. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and problems that required simple arithmetic calculations (arithmetic-type questions) were applied to the students. The relation between the main sensory modality used for learning and the grades obtained in each question type was analyzed both in unimodal and multimodal students. It was found that R unimodal students performed significantly better in arithmetic questions than A and K unimodal students (P < 0.001 by a Bonferroni multiple-comparison test after ANOVA). R unimodal students also performed better than R multimodal students in arithmetic questions (P = 0.02 by a Mann-Whitney U-test). However, no differences were observed after MCQs in either unimodal or multimodal students with different first sensory modalities used for learning. When MCQ scores between unimodal and multimodal students were compared, no differences were detected. It was concluded that the sensory learning style used for learning affects student outcome when students receive arithmetic questions but not when MCQs are applied.

The Effectiveness of the Chemistry Problem Based Learning (PBL) via FB among Pre-University Students

“…In terms of the learning style that showed a low academic achievement, the findings of this research is in line with the research by Moayyeri (2015) with the visual learning style acquiring the lowest achievement as compared to other learning styles. However, the result is different from the finding of Ramirez (2011) who found that the aural learning style showed the lowest academic achievement.…”

“…On the other hand, there no significant differences between the mean of students who adopted other learning styles. This research finding is in line with the research done by Ramirez (2011) andMoayyeri (2015) who found that students who adopted the unimodal read-write learning styles achieved significantly better as compared to those who adopted other learning styles. In the study by Ramirez (2011) two types of test questions, namely objective questions and arithmetic questions, were given to the students with different learning styles.…”

“…This research finding is in line with the research done by Ramirez (2011) andMoayyeri (2015) who found that students who adopted the unimodal read-write learning styles achieved significantly better as compared to those who adopted other learning styles. In the study by Ramirez (2011) two types of test questions, namely objective questions and arithmetic questions, were given to the students with different learning styles. For the arithmetic questions, students who adopted the read and write learning styles received the highest grades (mean = 6.3) as compared to visual (mean = 4.9), kinaesthetic (mean = 4.7) and aural (mean = 3.7).…”

“…Meanwhile, the visual learning style showed the lowest academic achievement. It is clear that the research done by Ramirez (2011) andMoayyeri (2015) showed the same findings with this research with the read & write learning style showing the highest achievement. In terms of the learning style that showed a low academic achievement, the findings of this research is in line with the research by Moayyeri (2015) with the visual learning style acquiring the lowest achievement as compared to other learning styles.…”

Matching Teaching Pedagogy with Learning Styles of Students- Insights through Literature Review

“…Chile: Three cohorts (2008,2009, and 2010) of second-year undergraduate medicine and sport science students, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile participated in this study. Usage of MCQs showed no significant differences however when arithmetic questions were given to solve, unimodal R students performed the best [17]. 6.…”