Korean J Med Educ.  2007 Sep;19(3):197-205.

The Assessment of Medical Students' Learning Styles using the Kolb Learning Style Inventory

• Kim SH
• Roh HR

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to assess if there is a relationship between Kolb learning styles and learner variables including age, gender, and grade retention among medical students.
METHODS
The Kolb Learning Style Inventory(LSI) is used at many educational levels to determine the learning preferences of medical students and clinicians. The students' learning styles were analyzed for associations with learner variables. The Kolb LSI was administered to 164 Kangwon medical students. They were categorized based on learner variables.
RESULTS
Kolb's 'assimilator' was the preferred learning style type of the study group(55.2%). 'Accommodator'(17.8%) and 'diverger'(16.0%) were next, followed by 'converger'(11.0%). Learning style preferences of medical students did not vary significantly according to age, gender, and grade retention.
CONCLUSION
No statistically significant relationships were identified between the Kolb learning styles and learner variables. The assessment of medical students' learning styles categorized based on Kolb LSI is expected to provide educators with skills to plan teaching strategies, employ a variety of teaching methods, and facilitate academic performance.

Keyword

Kolb learning styles; Medical students; Learner variables

MeSH Terms

Gangwon-do
Humans
Learning*
Students, Medical
Teaching