The Relationship Between Learning Styles, Attendance and Academic Performance of Pharmacy Undergraduates

Authors

  • Shahireh Sharif School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester, UK, M13 9PT
  • Larry A Gifford School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester, UK, M13 9PT
  • Gareth A Morris School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, M13 9PL.
  • Jill Barber School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester, UK, M13 9PT

Keywords:

attendance, examination performance, learning styles, Pharmacy students

Abstract

This paper reports a mixed methods study of academic performance of Pharmacy undergraduates in the University of Manchester. The study examines the relationship between learning styles, as defined by Honey and Mumford (1992), with attendance and academic performance at university. It uses data gathered from questionnaires, supplemented by administrative records.We present evidence that students with a tendency towards the “activist” style of learning have less favourable attendance records than their peers. The study also suggests a relationship between learning style and examination marks. The implications of these relationships with respect to curriculum design and learning support are discussed. 

References

Austin, Z. (2004). Learning Styles of Pharmacists: Impact on Career Decisions, Practice Patterns and Teaching Method Preferences. Pharmacy Education 4(1): 13-22.

Blaikie, N.W.H. (1991). A Critique of the Use of Triangulation in Social Research. Quality and Quantity, 25 (2): 115 –136.

Cassidy, S. (2004). Learning Styles: An Overview of Theories, Models and Measures. Educational Psychology, 24(4): 419 –444.

Coffield, F., Moseley, D., Hall E., and Ecclestone, K. (2004).Learning Styles: What Do We Know? Learning and Skills Research Centre, University of Newcastle. Obtainable from <http://www.lsda.org.uk/files/PDF/Unplearnstylespost16.pdf> Accessed on 8 November 2007.

Coolican, H. (1999). Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology, 3rded. Hodder and Stoughton, London.

Duff, A. (2004). The Role of Cognitive Learning Styles in Accounting Education: Developing Learning Competencies. Journal of Accounting Education, 22(1): 29 –52.

Duff, A., and Duffy, T. (2002). Psychometric Properties of Honey and Mumford’s Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ). Personality and Individual Differences, 33(1): 147 –163.

Dunn, R., Dunn, K., and Price, G.E. (1979). Productivity Environmental Preference Survey. Lawrence, KS, Price Systems.

Hakim, C. (1987). Research Design: Successful Designs for Social and Economic Research, 2nded.

Routledge, London.Hartley, J. (1998). Learning and Studying: A Research Perspective. Routledge, London.

Hawk, T.F., and Shah, A.J. (2007). Using Learning Style Instruments to Enhance Student Learning. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education,5(1): 1 -19.

Honey, P., and Mumford, A. (1986). Using Your Learning Styles, 2nded. Peter Honey, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Honey, P., and Mumford, A. (1992). The Manual of Learning Styles, 3rded. Peter Honey, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Jarvis, J., and Woodrow, D. (2001). Learning Preferences in Relation to Subjects of Study of Students in Higher Education. <http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00001850.htm> Accessed on 13 December 2002 and 11 January 2008.

Kolb, D. (1999). Learning Style Inventory Version 3 (Experienced Based Learning Systems Inc., Hay McBer Training Resources Group, Boston, MA, USA.)

Rayner, S. (2007). A Teaching Elixir, Learning Chimeraor Just Fool’s Gold? Do LearningStyles Matter? Support for Learning, 22(1): 24 -30

Robson, C. (1993). Real World Research. Blackwell Publishers Ltd. Oxford, UK.

Sadler-Smith, E., and Smith, P.J. (2007). Strategies for Accommodating Individuals’ Styles and Preferences in Flexible Learning Programmes. British Journal of Educational Technology,35(4): 395 -412.

Sharif, S.,Gifford,L.A., Morris, G.A., and Barber, J. (2007). An investigation of the Self-Evaluation Skills of First Year Pharmacy Students. Pharmacy Education, 7(4):295 -302.

Sternberg, R.J. (1997). Thinking Styles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Downloads

How to Cite

Sharif, S., Gifford, L. A., Morris, G. A., & Barber, J. (2015). The Relationship Between Learning Styles, Attendance and Academic Performance of Pharmacy Undergraduates. Pharmacy Education, 10. Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/264

Issue

Section

Research Article