Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1985

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Educational Psychology

Major Professor

Luther M. Kindall

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of the perceptual modalities of learning style (auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, and visual) to the academic achievement/grade point averages (GPA) of 40 Black college students of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, (UTK).

The subjects were tutors and tutees of UTK's Academic Support Center. Each participant was required to complete the Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (PEPS) and a questionnaire of demographic data. The PEPS was used to identify the learning style preferences of the students, and the questionnaire provided achievement related data.

The relationships between the perceptual modality preferences and GPA were low and not significant. There was indicated, however, an overwhelmingly strong preference for the kinesthetic modality.

The following conclusions were reached;

1. The generalizability of the study is limited by the sampling techniques and population used.

2. The learning style concept has not received the emphasis and use it is deserving of by UTK's Academic Support Center.

3. Much more empirical study of the learning style concept is needed. Attention, however, needs to be given particularly to the influence of culture-race and socio-economic status on the learning styles of individuals.

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