Comparative Analysis of Learning Style Preferences Between Pre-Science and Pre-Business Students

Abstract

Individual learning style causes a person to approach situation in different ways. As a result, it is important to investigate the learning styles of future students to improve the quality of the teaching and learning. This research used Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory to compare the learning styles of pre-science and pre-business students. A survey research design was utilized and a total of 121 samples was finally analyzed. Findings revealed that pre-science students were dominantly   assimilator whereby pre-business students were dominantly converger. With respect to the SPM (Malaysian Certificate of Education) achievement and learning styles, ANOVA revealed that there was significant difference in SPM English between accommodator and assimilator; between accommodator and converger. On the other hand, there was significant difference in SPM Mathematics between accommodator and converger. Furthermore, pre-science students were balanced with abstract conceptualization “thinking” learning mode and concrete experience “feeling” mode and highly comfortable with active experimentation “doing” mode. Pre-business students were more comfortable with abstract conceptualization “thinking” learning mode and active experimentation “doing” mode. This research suggests that the educators should be familiar with the learning styles of their students and engage with varieties of instructional strategies to ensure the success of their students.

Keywords: comparative analysis, learning style, pre-science, pre-business, Kolb

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-2-02

Publication date: January 31^st 2021