An Empirical study of learning styles used by undergraduate English learners in public sector colleges in Pakistan

Abstract

The current study aims at exploring the learning styles used by undergraduate English
learners in public-sector colleges in Pakistan. The study is descriptive and expository as it uses the
quantitative approach. There is dearth of empirical evidence in Pakistani context available to determine
the learning styles used by undergraduate English learners, therefore, the current study is an
endeavour to bridge the gap. There are normally three categories of English learners who study English
at undergraduate level. These categories are based on the respective discipline of learners and
categories are students of Arts (BA), students of Sciences (BSc.) and students of Commerce (BCom.).
The current empirical study using the survey approach was conducted by adopting the questionnaire
developed by Oxford and has been widely used across the globe to explore the area of learning styles.
The close-ended questionnaire developed on 4-point likert scale was administered to a sample of 300
English learners. Stratified sampling was done as each category of learners comprised equal proportion
of respondents i.e. 100 learners from each stratum. In order to analyse the data, the researchers used
independent sample t test, ANOVA, and bivariate correlation. The findings reveal that male were more
prone towards using visual, verbal, and interpersonal learning styles whereas female respondents were
in favour of intrapersonal and aural style. There was significant difference in using learning style by the
undergraduate English learners hailing from rural or urban background except in using physical
learning where there was no significant difference. The results of One-way ANOVA on the base of
economic background reveals that only significant difference was there in choosing interpersonal and
intrapersonal learning style otherwise there was no statistical difference among other leaning styles. It
is concluded from the study that the students of Arts and the students of Sciences have similar learning
style choice while the choice of learning styles by students of Commerce were quite different. The study
implicates that the findings of the study can be incorporated in dealing with each category of students
in order to yield productive results.