DIFFERENT AND DOMINANT PREFERENCES OF LEARNING STYLES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM ISLAMABAD AND GUJRANWALA CITIES, PAKISTAN

Syeda Hanaa Fatima; Ashraf Hussain; Sajida Naseem; Syeda Ridaa Fatima

doi:10.46903/gjms/20.04.1048

DIFFERENT AND DOMINANT PREFERENCES OF LEARNING STYLES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM ISLAMABAD AND GUJRANWALA CITIES, PAKISTAN

Syeda Hanaa Fatima, Ashraf Hussain, Sajida Naseem, Syeda Ridaa Fatima

Abstract

Background: Across institutions, cultures, and pedagogical settings, researchers and psychologists have shown that students’ preferred learning styles are distinct. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the dominant learning style among students. The objective of this study was to determine the different and dominant preferences of learning styles among undergraduate medical students from Islamabad and Gujranwala cities in Pakistan.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Medical Education, Shifa Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan from February 2020 to January 2021. A total of 363 students were selected from Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, and Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala, Pakistan. The Honey and Mumford 80-item LSQ tool was used, based on learning style inventory of Kolb. It has four major learning styles; Activist, Reflector, Theorist, and Pragmatist. It is considered an effective tool for identifying students learning styles. Participants were explained the questionnaire. The data was analyzed as counts and percentages with 95% CI.

Results: A total of 363 students participated in this study. The dominant/ preferred learning style was Reflectors in 206 (56.75%, 95% CI: 51.65-61.85) students, followed by Theorists in 176 (48.48%, 95%CI: 43.34-53.63), Activists in 156 (42.97%, 95%CI: 37.88-48.07) and Pragmatists in 140 (38.57%, 95%CI: 33.56-43.57) students.

Conclusion: In our study, most of the medical students showed Reflector as dominant learning style, followed by Theorists, Activists and Pragmatists. It is important for faculty to understand the varied learning styles of students in a class for effective learning.

Keywords

Curriculum; Learning style; Medical students; Questionnaire.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Fleming S, McKee G, Huntley-Moore S. Undergraduate nursing students' learning styles: a longitudinal study. Nurse Educ Today 2011;31(5):444-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2010.08.005

Rassool GH, Rawaf S. The influence of learning styles preference of undergraduate nursing students on educational outcomes in substance use education. Nurse Educ Pract 2008;8(5):306-14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2008.02.001

Holden R, McGrath J. Shadowing for self-development. J Further Higher Educ 1992;16:40-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877920160205

Valley K. Learning styles and courseware design. ALT-J 1997 Jan 1;5(2):42-51. https://doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v5i2.10561

Kappe FR, Boekholt L, Den Rooyen C, Van der Flier H. A predictive validity study of the Learning Style Questionnaire (LSQ) using multiple, specific learning criteria. Learn Individ Differ 2009;19(4):464-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2009.04.001

Khan JS, Tabasum S, Yousafzai UK. Determination of medical education environment in Punjab private and public medical colleges affiliated with University of Health Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2009;21(4):162-70.

Latif MZ, Wajid G. Reforming medical education in Pakistan through strengthening departments of medical education. Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(6):1439-44. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.346.15942

Van Zwanenberg N, Wilkinson LJ, Anderson A. Felder and Silverman's Index of Learning Styles and Honey and Mumford's Learning Styles Questionnaire: how do they compare and do they predict academic performance? Edu Psychol 2000; 20(3):365-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/713663743

Mak WM, Chang J, Hsia P, Chan J, Yu B. The use of learning styles questionnaire in Hong Kong. Developments in business simulation and experiential learning: proceedings of the annual ABSEL Conference 2007;34:138-43.

Honey P, Mumford A. The learning styles helper's guide. Maidenhead: Peter Honey Publications; 2000.

Wong KK, Pine RJ, Tsang N. Learning style preferences and implications for training programs in the hospitality and tourism industry. J Hosp Tour Educ 2000;12(2):32-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2000.10685277

Abdul Nasir SJ. The learning styles of early adult students from different cultural backgrounds in Malaysia. Distance Edu Centre UiTM 2009;4(2):1-9.

Guraya SS, Guraya SY, Habib FA, Khoshhal KI. Learning styles of medical students at Taibah University: trends and implications. J Res Med Sci 2014;19(12):1155-62. https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-1995.150455

Nizami R, Latif MZ, Wajid G. Preferred learning styles of medical and physiotherapy students. Ann King Edw Med Univ 2017;23(1). https://doi.org/10.21649/akemu.v23i1.1511

Bhalli MA, Khan IA, Sattar A. Learning style of medical students and its correlation with preferred teaching methodologies and academic achievement. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2015;27(4):837-42.

Lesmes-Anel J, Robinson G, Moody S. Learning preferences and learning styles: a study of Wessex general practice registrars. Br J Gen Pract 2001;51(468):559-64.

Shukr I, Zainab R, Rana MH. Learning styles of postgraduate and undergraduate medical students. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2013;23(1):25-30.

Woolhouse M, Blaire T. Learning styles and retention and achievement on a two-year A-level programme in a further education college. J Further Higher Educ 2003;27(3):257-69. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877032000098680

Divaris K, Barlow PJ, Chendea SA, Cheong WS, Dounis A, Dragan IF, et al. The academic environment: the students' perspective. Eur J Dent Educ 2008;12:120-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2007.00494.x

Alavinia P, Ebrahimpour S. On the correlation between emotional intelligence and learning styles: the case of Iranian academic EFL learners. Theory Pract Lang Stud 2012;2(6):1291-9. https://doi.org/10.4304/tpls.2.6.1291-1299

Ehtisham M, Ghouri RN, Khan MA, Yousaf M, Jawed S. Emotional quotient of medical students in Faisalabad, Pakistan: overall and by sex, age groups and residence. Gomal J Med Sci 2022 3;20(3):119-26.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/20.04.1048