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Version 1.3 – Updated November 2024

Matching teaching to style of learning

Overview

  • Influence: Matching teaching to style of learning
  • Domain: Student Learning Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Student-focused interventions
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have a small positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Where different forms of teaching are tied to the students' preferred style of learning (e.g., kinesthetic (movement), visual, auditory, and tactile) for a specific task.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 18
  • Number of studies: 893
  • Number of students: 104,812
  • Number of effects: 2,848
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.39
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author First Author's Country Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Journal of Research in Science Teaching Tamir Israel Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Preferences and Learning 1985 Cognitive preference 54 0 13 0.02
Exceptional Children Kavale & Forness USA Substance over style: Assessing the efficacy of modality testing and teaching 1987 Modality testing and teaching 39 3,087 318 0.75
Dissertation Sullivan USA A meta-analysis of experimental research studies based on the Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model and its relationship to academic achievement and performance 1993 Dunn and Dunn Learning styles matched to achievement 42 3,434 42 0.75
Dissertation Iliff USA Kolb Learning Style Inventory: A meta-analysis 1994 Kolb Learning Style matched to achievement 101 0 486 0.33
Journal of Educational Research Dunn, Griggs, Olson, Beasley & Gorman USA A meta-analytic validation of the Dunn and Dunn model of learning-style preferences 1995 Interventions to enhance matching learning style on achievement 36 3,181 65 0.76
Journal of Classroom Interaction Garlinger & Frank USA Teacher-Student Cognitive Style and Academic Achievement: A Review and Mini-Meta-Analysis 1986 Field independence/dependence on achievement 7 1,531 7 -0.03
Dissertation Slemmer USA The effect of learning styles on student achievement in various hypertext, hypermedia, and technology-enhanced learning environments: a meta-analysis 2002 Learning styles in hyper/technology environments 48 5,908 51 0.13
Dissertation Mangino USA A meta-analysis of Dunn and Dunn model correlational research with adult populations 2004 Dunn and Dunn Learning styles for adults 47 8,661 386 0.54
Journal of Educational Research Lovelace USA Meta-Analysis of Experimental Research Based on the Dunn and Dunn Model 2005 Dunn and Dunn Learning styles matched to achievement 76 7,196 168 0.67
Dissertation Salvione USA Meta-analysis of Correlational Studies Based on the Dunn and Dunn Model Conducted with Elementary School Populations 2007 Dunn and Dunn learning styles for students 34 7,093 677 0.28
Learning and Individual Differences Peterson & Meissel New Zealand The effect of Cognitive Style Analysis (CSA) test on achievement: A meta-analytic review. 2015 verbal-imagery vs holistic thinking 15 1,457 15 0.16
Book Ay Turkey The Effect of Learning Types/Styles on Student Achievement 2017 Learning styles 60 26,391 60 0.47
Psychological Bulletin Phillips, Fletcher, Marks & Hine USA Thinking styles and decision making: A meta-analysis. 2016 Reflection thinking styles on performance 89 17,704 68 0.24
Psychological Bulletin Phillips, Fletcher, Marks & Hine USA Thinking styles and decision making: A meta-analysis. 2016 Intuition thinking styles on performance 89 17,704 49 0.21
Journal of Instruction and Evaluation Ostovar Iran Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Learning Styles and Students' Academic Achievement.  2023 Learning styles 98 0 384 0.19
Iranian Journal of Medical Education Mohammadi, Sayehmiri, Tavan, & Mohammadi Iran Learning styles of Iranian nursing students based on Kolb's theory: A systematic review and meta-analysis study.  2013 Learning styles on achievement 10 0 10 0.25
Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice Kanadli Turkey A meta-analysis on the effect of instructional designs based on the learning styles models on academic achievement, attitude and retention.  2016 Learning styles on achievement 30 0 30 1.03
Türk Akademik Yayinlar Dergisi Erdem & Kaf Turkey Effect of learning styles on academic achievement: A meta-analysis. 2023 Learning styles 18 1,465 19 0.78
TOTAL/AVERAGE 893 104,812 2,848 0.42
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