Learning Styles to the Test : An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Matching Learning Preferences with Learning Context

Abstract

The term "learning styles" refers to the idea that individuals differ in which mode of instruction or study is most effective for them. This study presents the results of a controlled experiment designed to test the hypothesis that students who practice with new information through their preferred context (alone vs. small groups) enjoy the situation more, and gain more knowledge from pre- to post-assessment, than do students who practice with the material in their non-preferred context.