The Relationship between Learning Styles and Learning Outcomes for Adults in an Informal Educational Setting

Autor/in	Roberts, Larry N.
Titel	The Relationship between Learning Styles and Learning Outcomes for Adults in an Informal Educational Setting
Quelle	(2013), (161 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, Northcentral University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-2679-5133-5
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Correlation; Cognitive Style; Informal Education; Museums; Information Needs; Statistical Analysis; Adult Learning; Outcomes of Education; Scores; Measures (Individuals); Gardening; Climate; Recreational Facilities; Predictor Variables; Prior Learning; Arizona; Learning Style Inventory + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Korrelation; Cognitive styles; Kognitiver Stil; Informelle Bildung; Nichtformale Bildung; Museum; Museumswesen; Museen; Information need; Informationsbedürfnis; Statistische Analyse; Adulte education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Lernleistung; Schulerfolg; Messdaten; Gartenarbeit; Klima; Freizeiteinrichtung; Prädiktor; Vorkenntnisse
Abstract	With more adults seeking unique and meaningful learning experiences in both recreational and professional arenas, informal learning institutions, such as museums, zoos, and botanical gardens are a natural source. Informal learning opportunities are the business of these institutions; moreover, a goal in education mission statements of many of these informal learning institutions is education programming designed for the adult visitor. Yet, historically the educational programming at these institutions has been designed for children, similar to public school education. Previous studies about museum programs for adults examined why adults attend programs; gathered statistics related to age, education, and gender; and assessed what visitors wanted from the experience. However, studies that include how adults learn in informal learning settings have been limited. Research on the association between learning styles and learning shows that information needs to be presented in a variety of formats for it to be internalized by everyone. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between one aspect of adult learning practice, learning style, and museum-focused learning outcomes. This nonexperimental, quantitative research was designed to investigate whether there is a relationship between individual learning styles as assessed by the Kolb LSI and learning outcomes as measured by scores on the DEELSA, an inventory of visitors' knowledge and attitudes about the desert environment developed specifically for this study. One hundred and sixty adults participated in a thematic garden tour at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Findings of this study indicated a minuscule explained variance between the predictor variable, individual learning styles and the two learning outcomes (knowledge, R[superscript 2] = 0.02, F(3, 155) = 1.23, p = 0.30 and attitude, R[superscript 2] = 0.03, F(3, 155) = 1.39, p = 0.249). An ancillary analysis did return a statistically significant correlation, r(158) = 0.47, p < 0.001, between knowledge and attitude scores. In consideration of this study's findings and limitations, recommendations for future research include assessing prior knowledge, meaningful segmenting of study groups, and establishing more controlled experiences on the chosen trail tour, recognizing that learning style alone may not be the best predictor of learning outcomes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10