Learning styles investigation and report Assignment

Learning styles
investigation and
report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Kolb's Learning styles ...........................................................................................................1
Critically analyse how Kolb's learning style theory has been translated into the psychometric
tests ........................................................................................................................................3
Critically analyse the implications of the model and test results in self evaluation of learning
styles and the implications for own approach to learning .....................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Learning is a continuous process by which knowledge is created by the conversion of
experience (DeCoux, 2016). According to Kolb, knowledge is obtained from the mixture of
gaining experience and transforming it. This file explains Kolb's learning theory and four
different styles of this theory. This report consists of Kolb's learning style as well.
Kolb's Learning styles
David Kolb published his learning styles model in the year 1984 and from this he
developed the learning style inventory. There are basically four combinations of perceiving and
processing published by Kolb. According to Kolb, the learning styles are not fixed personality
traits (Smith, 2016). They are stable patterns of behaviour that is based on the background and
experiences of an individual. The Kolb experimental theory consists of two levels – a four stage
cycle of learning and separate learning styles.
The Experimental Learning cycle
The experimental learning style theory is explained by learning cycle of four stages such
as abstract conceptualisation, Reflective observation of the new experience, concrete
experience, and active experimentation. A concrete experience is a new situation or experience
of an individual. The abstract conceptualisation means reflection that gives rise to a new idea or
changes in an existing abstract concept. The individuals learn from his own experience. The
active experimentation means the learner applies the ideas actually and see it's implications on
world.
There are basically four different types of learning styles which are based on learning
cycle. There are different factors that influence style of an individual like educational
experiences, social environment and the cognitive structure of the person. There is a typical
presentation of Kolb's two continuum in which east-west axis is known as the processing
continuum and the north south axis is called as the perception continuum.
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(Source: Kolb's learning style, 2017 )
Kolb thinks that a person cannot perform both variables on a single axis at the same time
(Li and Armstrong, 2015). The Kolb's learning style is a two by two matrix in which every
learning style represents a combination of two preferred styles. The matrix represents the four
type of learning styles – diverging, assimilating, converging and accommodating.
Active Experimentation
(Doing)
Reflective Observation
(Watching)
Concrete experience
(Feeling)
Accommodating Diverging
Abstract Conceptualisation
(Thinking)
Converging Assimilating
The learning style of an individual enables learning to be oriented according to the method.
The description of four Kolb learning styles are given below-
Diverging (feeling and watching)
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Such individuals look at things from different perspective (Newton, 2015). These are
sensitive people and they prefer to watch rather than doing something. They collect information
and solve problems by imagination. These individuals are best at viewing concrete problems
from different viewpoints.
Assimilating ( watching and thinking)
The assimilating learning preference includes a logical approach. Ideas and concepts are
more important than people. Such individuals need good and clear explanation than a practical
opportunity.
Converging (doing and thinking)
These individuals are able to solve problems and use their learnings for finding solutions
to practical issues. They focus on doing technical tasks and they are not interested in people and
interpersonal aspects.
Accommodating (doing and feeling)
The Accommodating style depends on intuition and not on logic. This learning requires
learning of other person's analysis and then doing a practical or experience approach. These
individuals are attracted towards new challenges and experiences and making new plans.
Critically analyse how Kolb's learning style theory has been translated into the psychometric
tests
Psychometric tests are a standard and specific method used for measuring individual's
behavioural style and mental capabilities. The psychometric tests are designed to measure
sustainability of a candidate for the role based on the required personality characteristics and
aptitude or cognitive abilities. The Kolb theory is associated with the internal cognitive processes
of learner. Kolb concluded that learning includes the acquisition of abstract concepts which can
be used in variety of situations. The development of new concept in this theory is developed by
new experiences. The Kolb's learning styles inventory was developed for measuring the use of
four different learning abilities- concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract
conceptualisation and active experimentation by an individual. (Truong, 2016). These learning
abilities are related to four stages. These abilities represents the two dimensions of learning. The
first dimension is a concrete abstract dimension and the second dimension is an active
dimension. Kolb has developed a self description questionnaire for measuring the four learning
abilities. This questionnaire consists of a nine sets of four words or items. The respondent is
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required to rank in order every set of four items without having any ties. Twenty four items are
used for constructing scale scores. The ranking format is used to require the respondent for
resolving the tension which exist between learning abilities that are viewed as “polar opposites”.
This ranking is becoming popular as a pedagogical device as well as instrument for research. The
increase in use of this method has occurred despite of scarcity of information on the
psychometric properties of the instrument. The basic question of the internal consistency or
reliability of this method is neglected. Reliability is a necessary condition for the development of
a valid instrument. The negative aspect of the use of Kolb's theory in psychometric tests is that
experiential learning theory and the learning style inventory is seriously flawed. The judgement
concerning the validity of experiential learning theory reset primarily on the analysis of the
internal characteristics of the learning style inventory. These have no attention to the construct
validity of the instrument and they are made without analysis and even awareness of the
considerable research literature on the experiential learning. The criticism of the forced choice
format of the learning style inventory fails to recognise the theoretical rationale for the
instrument structure. The challenges faced by an individual are language barriers or inexperience
of attending the questionnaire or survey. Kolb developed this questionnaire for self description
and measuring the four learning abilities. If an individual does not know the language then he is
unable to consult this questionnaire to do the self analysis. Another problem is that if any person
is not able to attend the survey, he is not able to analyse the self description questionnaire. The
main disadvantage of the Kolb theory is that format used in the learning style inventory cannot
easily recognise the theoretical rationale for the structure of instrument.
Critically analyse the implications of the model and test results in self evaluation of learning
styles and the implications for own approach to learning
There are basically five stages of experiential learning cycle like experiencing,
publishing, processing, generalising and applying. The main implication of experimental
learning is that it is associated to the actual meaning and not facts or subjects. This is a
personalised learning and the result of this involves change in behaviour of the person and not
imposed on him. The experiential learning tends in both process as well as outcomes. David
Kolb published his learning styles model in the year 1984 and from this he developed the
learning style inventory. There are basically four combinations of perceiving and processing
published by Kolb. According to Kolb, the learning styles are not fixed personality traits.
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According to the Kolb learning theory, learning is defined as the process in which knowledge is
created by changing the experience. The experiential theory given by Kolb takes a more holistic
approach than cognitive and behavioural theories. The Kolb theory focuses more on experience
of individual and it involves different factors like environmental, cognitive, emotions, etc. The
concrete experience gives information which is a base for reflection. These reflections collect the
information and form abstract concepts. These concepts are used for developing new theories
about world. According to Kolb, people are considered as watchers and doers. The watchers
prefer reflective observation and doers are engaged in active experimentation. There are different
factors which influences preferred learning styles such as personality types, educational
specialisation, career choice, current job role and adaptive competencies. They are stable patterns
of behaviour that is based on the background and experiences of an individual. The Kolb
experimental theory consists of two levels – a four stage cycle of learning and separate learning
styles. The individuals are encouraged for making own theories and results on their thinking.
The Kolbs learning style tends to focus on actual way of doing things. This is a learning rooted
in the perception and feelings of the individual. The learnings creates actual facts from the
experiences. This reflects that individuals are engaged in learning and developing creativity, the
freedom of thinking and relationship skills. It is not right to apply any methodology blindly
(Shinnick and Woo, 2015). It is important to review and asses effectiveness of the methods used
for learning. The teaching professionals uses learning stages and cycle to analyse the learning
provision typically to students and developing effective opportunities of learning. The educators
must take care that the activities designed in a manner that provides chance to every learner
engaging in a way that is best for them (An and Carr, 2017.). The process of identifying learning
styles that are less preferred by people and the strengthening of these is helpful for individuals in
effectively learning the concepts. The activities and materials must be enhanced in a manner that
focuses on the abilities from every stage experiential learning cycle.
This learning style helped me as a student because Kolb's theory suggests that there is a
correlation between students learning style and their selected majors. Individuals who choose
college majors and professions who are aligned to learning style are more committed to their
field. The experiential learning is good for me to explore my own strength while learning new
things.
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CONCLUSION
According to the above report, it has been concluded that there is a Kolb's theory of
learning that is based upon experimental theory which relates to reflection of experiences. There
are basically two continuum that form a quadrant such as processing continuum and perception
continuum. There are four distinct learning styles based on learning cycle. Kolb explains
different people prefer a specific single different learning style. There are different factors that
influence style of an individual like educational experiences, social environment and the
cognitive structure of the person.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
DeCoux, V.M., 2016. Kolb's learning style inventory: A review of its applications in nursing
research. Journal of Nursing Education, 29(5), pp.202-207.
Smith, A., 2016. Experiential learning. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Li, M. and Armstrong, S.J., 2015. The relationship between Kolb's experiential learning styles
and Big Five personality traits in international managers. Personality and Individual
Differences, 86, pp.422-426.
Newton, P.M., 2015. The learning styles myth is thriving in higher education. Frontiers in
psychology, 6, p.1908.
Chen, Y.C., 2015. Linking learning styles and learning on mobile Facebook. The International
Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(2).
Truong, H.M., 2016. Integrating learning styles and adaptive e-learning system: Current
developments, problems and opportunities. Computers in human behavior, 55, pp.1185-
1193.
Shinnick, M.A. and Woo, M.A., 2015. Learning style impact on knowledge gains in human
patient simulation. Nurse Education Today, 35(1), pp.63-67.
An, D. and Carr, M., 2017. Learning styles theory fails to explain learning and achievement:
Recommendations for alternative approaches. Personality and Individual
Differences, 116, pp.410-416.
Online
Kolb's learning style, 2017.[Online].Available through<
https://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html>
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