ATTITUDES TOWARD LEARNING PREFERENCE:THE RELATION WITH PERSONALITY

In this study, 106 women (M age = 23 years) completed a series of questionnaires online assessing personality traits and facets (subscales), learning preferences (Activist, Reflector, Theorist, Pragmatist), and attitudes toward learning preferences.The vast majority of participants in this study believed that students are more likely to have academic success when teaching and learning strategies match their learning style. However, the results of several hierarchical regression analyses found that a large proportion of variance in learning style was accounted for by personality traits or facets. For example, 43% of the variance in the Activist Learning Style was accounted for by higher scores on Extraversion, and lower scores on Conscientiousness and Negative Emotionality. When personality facet scores were used as predictors, the proportion of variance jumped to 55%. Similarly, between 27-31% of the variance in Reflector, Theorist and Pragmatist Learning Style was accounted for by personality facet scores alone. The results are discussed in terms of learning style attitudes and myths pervasive in the literature, and the need for evidence-based practices.