Analysis of preferred learning styles of PhD-students

Abstract

There are various learning style instruments like the Kolb Learning Style Indicator, the Gregorc Style Delineator, the Felder Silverman Index of Learning Styles, the VARK Questionnaire, and the Dunn and Dunn Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (Amit J. Shah, 2007). Here we focus on the Felder-Silverman model of learning dimensions, and this is the model we based our survey on. To analyze learning style preferences of PhD students at the Faculties of Engineering and Science at Lund University, we used an online questionnaire. The survey contained ten questions. Four of which asked the participants to categorize themselves according to the four dimensions of the Felder Silverman model. The remaining questions were more general and addressed individual learning preferences. By cross tabulating various learning dimensions with answers to questions regarding education: like preferred ways of examination, lab organization, study methods etc., we were able to show correlations that could potentially be useful during course evaluation and improvement as well as for organizing PhD studies.