Kho, M.G.W. (2018). Analyzing students’ perceptual learning styles at a polytechnic in Malaysia. E-proceeding of the LSP-GABC 2018 International Conference. (original) (raw)

This perceptual learning styles research looked into how students perceive and process information based on their preferred learning styles. This paper investigated the perceptual learning styles of students at a polytechnic in Malaysia. In this study, quantitative methods were employed to collect data. In addition, Reid's (1984) Perceptual Learning Styles Preferences Questionnaire (PLSPQ) was administered to a total of 163 respondents in the polytechnic (103 Commerce and 60 Engineering respondents). Based on the mean scores, the kinaesthetic learning style appeared to be the most preferred learning style, and followed by the group learning style. The least preferred learning style was the individual learning style. Meanwhile, the t-test displayed a significant difference for the learning styles adopted by the Commerce and Engineering students. The Commerce students favoured individual learning, in comparison to Engineering students. The implications of this paper suggest that educators need to pay attention to their students' perceptual learning styles in order to engage them in a more effective learning and teaching process, as well as to encourage student-oriented learning process to take place, especially in an ESL classroom.