ERIC Number: EJ1465421
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-726X
EISSN: EISSN-1573-336X
Available Date: 2025-04-01
Learning Styles, Preferences, or Strategies? An Explanation for the Resurgence of Styles across Many Meta-Analyses
John Hattie1; Timothy O'Leary1
Educational Psychology Review, v37 n2 Article 31 2025
The persistence of learning styles as a concept in educational discourse and research is paradoxical, given the overwhelming evidence discrediting the matching hypothesis, the notion that aligning teaching methods with students' preferred learning styles enhances achievement. This paper examines the resurgence of learning styles across meta-analyses and proposes an explanation for their enduring appeal. Drawing on 17 meta-analyses, we distinguish between studies testing the matching hypothesis (effect size d = 0.04) and correlational studies (average correlation r = 0.24), revealing that the latter often conflates learning styles with learning strategies. Much of the research is flawed, and the argument is that there needs to be a shift away from matching learning styles toward teaching students adaptable and effective learning strategies that align more closely with task complexity and learning goals.
Descriptors: Cognitive Style, Meta Analysis, Learning Strategies, Correlation, Teaching Methods, Preferences, Educational Objectives
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia