Preferred Learning Style of Undergraduate Medical Students at Shalamar Medical and Dental College; A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: Teaching methods are approaches and strategies used by educators to impart knowledge, skills, and values to students.  While they may vary, according to the difference in curricula and levels of education, their efficiency depends on the type of learning that the method in question brings about.

Objective: Our research aims to investigate the preferred learning style of undergraduate medical students at Shalamar Medical and Dental College.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Shalamar Medical and Dental College. A total of 223 students (selected using stratified and systematic sampling) filled out the online questionnaire after giving informed consent. VARK Questionnaire (version 8.01) was used to investigate the learning style of students and a self-designed questionnaire to find their preferred learning style. Data was collected electronically and compiled via Google Forms Software. SPSS was used for analysis of statistical data. The variables collected include the preferred learning styles of students.

Results: Out of 223 participants, 129 (57.8%) were females and 92 (41.3%) were males. Kinaesthetic (55.6%) was found to be the most common learning style followed by aural (22.4%), then visual (21.1%), and lastly reading/writing (0.9%). The majority of students (61%) chose self-learning as their preferred learning style, followed by small group discussions (30.9%), while only 8.1% preferred class lectures.

Conclusion: The favored self-learning was used as a teaching technique, and no significant link was identified between learning style and their preference for teaching methods