The learning styles and achievement of students in science using visual, auditory and kinesthetic (VAK) modality

Abstract

Learning Style is one of the main factors that influence student‘s academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to identify the style of learning among Form 3 students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Johor Jaya 2, Johor Bahru and evaluate whether there is a correlation between the learning styles of Form 3 students with their Science achievement. Besides investigating the relationship between learning styles and achievement, the difference in learning style, race and gender are also investigated. The instrument used in the research was modified from ?Learning Style Questionnaire? by Diane Johnson (2004) and translated to Bahasa Melayu. This instrument consists of 30 items that can be categorized into 3 modalities as visual, auditory and kinesthetic. The survey was carried out by distributing questionnaire to 50 Form 3 students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Johor Jaya 2, Johor Bahru. Data was analyzed statistically by using Package SPSS Version 12.0. The outcome of the study indicates that the pupils of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Johor Jaya 2, Johor Bahru have certain difference in their learning style based on race and gender. They prefer to learn using a combination of three modalities. Besides that, it is also found that this students practise learning style base on a single modality that is visual, auditory or kinesthetic, a combination of two modalities and combination of three modalities. A positive and significant correlation had been found between the Science achievement with the single modality or a combination of two modalities. This research failed to reject that there is any significant correlation between the pupils practising combination of three modalities with Science achievement