LEARNING STYLES AMONG MASTERSKILL NURSING STUDENTS IN KOTA BAHRU, KELANTAN

Abstract

Learning style is more than merely individual behaviors, we need to explore and examine a person's inclinations towards learning in a holistic manner (Dunn & Thies, 2001). In this study, a total of 130 nursing students at Masterskill College were chosen to answer the questionnaire constructed to ascertain the types of learning styles they employed. The study also examined gender differences and other factors contributing to different Learning Styles. The most important factor examined is the significance of Learning Styles on their academic achievement.

The study showed that there were only significant gender differences for Emotional Learning Style as females employed such form of learning far more than the males. There were no significant differences in Learning Styles according to academic achievement, however high achievers preferred environmental and physical learning styles while average achievers preferred emotional and social learning styles. The low achievers preferred the psychological learning styles. Age differences existed only for environmental learning styles; older students are more inclined towards environmental learning styles, but the younger ones are more willing to experience all the learning styles available. Their places of residence did not seem to influence their learning styles, but students from the rural areas were more willing to indulge all types of learning styles. Similarly, income brackets did not influence their learning styles, but the students of average income families were more flexible in their learning styles.