Identifying the learning styles of dental undergraduates of University of Peradeniya: VARK-questionnaire based study

Abstract

Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic learning styles can be identified using a VARK questionnaire. This study aimed to identify the main learning style of dental undergraduates who were in their clinical years of training. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 7 th and 9 th Semester students in 2023. The VARK questionnaire was self-administered in a Google Form. Chi-square test was used in R-Studio for statistical analysis. Response rate was 85% with 1:1.8 male to female ratio. Most preferred styles were Kinesthetic 39.5% and Auditory 28.5%. There was a significant difference between males and females in their preferred styles (p value=0.045) The existing teaching- learning system in the Faculty of Dental Sciences University of Peradeniya, provides professional assistance to undergraduates from hands on clinical experience and laboratory practicals supported with lectures and discussions. This suggests that the teaching methods are aligned with the majority of students’ preferences. However, individuals’ learning preferences might differ, and some may benefit from multimodal approaches. In- depth investigation is required to find out multimodal preferences. It can be concluded that the dental students perform best when given experiential learning opportunities and auditory-based teaching strategies.