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Learning Styles Questionnaire
Name: _______________________________________
This questionnaire is designed to find out your preferred learning style(s). Over the years you have
probably developed learning "habits" that help you benefit more from some experiences than from
others. Since you are probably unaware of this, this questionnaire will help you pinpoint your learning
preferences so that you are in a better position to select learning experiences that suit your style and
having a greater understanding of those that suit the style of others.
This is an internationally proven tool designed by Peter Honey and Alan Mumford.
There is no time limit to this questionnaire. It will probably take you 10-15 minutes. The accuracy of
the results depends on how honest you can be. There are no right or wrong answers.
If you agree more than you disagree with a statement put a tick by it.
If you disagree more than you agree put a cross by it.
Be sure to mark each item with either a tick or cross.
1.^ I have strong^ beliefs about what is right and wrong, good and bad.
2.^ I^ often act without considering the possible consequences
3.^ I tend to solve problems using a step-by-step approach
4.^ I believe that formal procedures and policies restrict people
5.^ I have a reputation for saying what I think, simply and directly
6.^ I often find that actions based on feelings are as sound as those based on careful
thought and analysis
7.^ I like the sort of work where I have time for thorough preparation and implementation
8.^ I regularly question people about their basic assumptions
9.^ What matters most is whether something works in practice
10.^ I actively seek out new experiences
11.^ When I hear about a new idea or approach I immediately start working out how to
apply it in practice
12.^ I^ am keen on self discipline such as watching my diet, taking regular exercise, sticking
to a fixed routine, etc.
13.^ I take pride in doing a thorough job
14.^ I get on best with logical, analytical people and less well with spontaneous, "irrational"
15.^ I take care over the interpretation of data available to me and avoid jumping to
conclusions
16.^ I like to reach a decision carefully after weighing up many alternatives
17.^ I'm attracted more to novel, unusual ideas than to practical ones 18.^ I don't like disorganised things and prefer to fit things into a coherent pattern 19.^ I accept and stick to laid down procedures and policies so long as I regard them as an
efficient way of getting the job done
20.^ I^ like to relate my actions to a general principle 21.^ In discussions I like to get straight to the point 22.^1 tend to have distant, rather formal relationships with people at work 23.^ I thrive on the challenge of tackling something new and different 24.^ I enjoy fun-loving, spontaneous people 25.^ I pay meticulous attention to detail before coming to a conclusion 26.^ I find it difficult to produce ideas on impulse 27.^ I believe in coming to the point immediately 28.^ I am careful not to jump to conclusions too quickly 29.^ I prefer to have as many resources of information^ as possible^ -^ the more data to think
over the better
30.^ Flippant people who don't take things seriously enough usually irritate me 31.^ I listen to other people's points of view before putting my own forward 32.^ I tend to be open about how I'm feeling 33.^ In discussions I enjoy watching the manoeuvrings of the other participants 34.^ I prefer to respond to events on a spontaneous, flexible basis rather than plan things out
in advance
35.^ I tend to be attracted to techniques such as network analysis, flow charts, branching
programs, contingency planning, etc.
36.^ It worries me if I have to rush out a piece of work to meet a tight deadline 37.^ I tend to judge people's ideas on their practical merits 38.^ Quiet, thoughtful people tend to make me feel uneasy 39.^ I often get irritated by people who want to rush things 40.^ It is more important to enjoy the present moment than to think about the past or future 41.^ I think that decisions based on a thorough analysis of all the information are sounder
than those based on intuition
42.^ I tend to be a perfectionist 43.^ In discussions I usually produce lots of spontaneous ideas 44.^ In meetings I put forward practical realistic ideas 45.^ More often than not, rules are there to be broken 46.^ I prefer to stand back from a situation 47.^ I can often see inconsistencies and weaknesses in other people's arguments
80.^ People often find me insensitive to their feelings Scoring and Interpreting the Learning Styles Questionnaire
The Questionnaire is scored by awarding one point for each ticked item. There are no points for
crossed items. Simply indicate on the lists below which items were ticked by circling the appropriate
question number.
2 7 1 5 4 13 3 9 6 15 8 11 10 16 12 19 17 25 14 21 23 28 18 27 24 29 20 35 32 31 22 37 34 33 26 44 38 36 30 49 40 39 42 50 43 41 47 53 45 46 51 54 48 52 57 56 58 55 61 59 64 60 63 65 71 62 68 69 72 66 75 70 74 67 77 73 79 76 78 80 TOTALS Activist Reflector Theorist Pragmatist
Plot the totals on the arms of the cross below:
Your result may show that you have a particular learning style preference.
It may be useful to bear this in mind as you approach coaching relationships. How does the
approach you adopt impact your thoughts and actions? How might learning style theory impact
your coaching relationships? How can you best support a coachee with another learning style to
improve their performance?
At this point you may also find it helpful to read through the ‘ Learning Styles – General Descriptions’ which follow. This provides more detail and should help you clarify your sense of
your own preferred style(s).
Activist Pragmatist Reflector Theorist
Learning styles - a further perspective ACTIVISTS: Activists learn best from activities where: There are new experiences/problems/opportunities from which to learn. They can engross themselves in short "here and now" activities such as business games, competitive teamwork tasks, role-playing exercises. There is excitement/drama/crisis and things chop and change with a range of diverse activities to tackle They have a lot of the limelight/high visibility, i.e. they can "chair" meetings, lead discussions, and give presentations. They are allowed to generate ideas without constraints of policy or structure or feasibility. They are thrown in at the deep end with a task they think is difficult, i.e. when set a challenge with inadequate resources and adverse conditions. They are involved with other people, i.e. bouncing ideas off them, solving problems as part of a team. It is appropriate to "have a go". Activists learn least from, and may react against, activities where: Learning involves a passive role, i.e. listening to lectures, monologues, explanations, statements of how things should be done, reading, watching. They are asked to stand back and not be involved. They are required to assimilate, analyse and interpret lots of "messy" data. They are required to engage in solitary work, i.e. reading, writing, thinking on their own. They are asked to assess beforehand what they will learn, and to appraise afterwards what they have learned. They are offered statements they see as "theoretical", i.e. explanation of cause or background They are asked to repeat essentially the same activity over and over again, i.e. when practicing. They have precise instructions to follow with little room for manoeuvre. They are asked to do a thorough job, i.e. attend to detail, tie up loose ends, dot the i's, cross t's. Summary of strengths Flexible and open minded. Happy to have a go. Happy to be exposed to new situations. Optimistic about anything new and therefore unlikely to resist change. Summary of weaknesses: Tendency to take the immediately obvious action without thinking. Often take unnecessary risks. Tendency to do too much themselves and hog the limelight. Rush into action without sufficient preparation. Get bored with implementation/consolidation. Key questions for activists: Shall I learn something new, i.e. that I didn't know/couldn't do before? Will there be a wide variety of different activities? (I don't want to sit and listen for more than an hour at a stretch!) Will it be OK to have a go/let my hair down/make mistakes/have fun? Shall 1 encounter some tough problems and challenges? Will there be other like-minded people to mix with?
REFLECTORS:
Reflectors learn best from activities where: They are allowed or encouraged to watch/think/chew over activities. They are able to stand back From events and listen/observe, i.e. observing a group at work, taking a back seat in a meeting, watching a film or video. They are allowed to think before acting, to assimilate before commencing, i.e. time to prepare, a chance to read in advance a brief giving background data. They can carry out some painstaking research, i.e. investigate, assemble information, and probe to get to the bottom of things. They have the opportunity to review what has happened, what they have learned. They are asked to produce carefully considered analyses and reports. They are helped to exchange views with other people without danger, i.e. by prior agreement, within a structured learning experience. They can reach a decision in their own time without pressure and tight deadlines. Reflectors learn least from, and may react against, activities where:
- They are "forced" into the limelight, i.e. to act as leader/chairman, to role-play in front of on-lookers.
- They are involved in situations which require action without planning.
- They are pitched into doing something without warning, i.e. to produce an instant reaction, to produce an off-the-top-of-the-head idea.
- They are given insufficient data on which to base a conclusion.
- They are given cut and dried instructions of how things should be done.
- They are worried by time pressures or rushed from one activity to another.
- In the interests of expediency they have to make short cuts or do a superficial job. Summary of strengths: Careful. Thorough and methodical Thoughtful Good at listening to others and assimilating information. Rarely jump to conclusions. Summary of weaknesses: Tendency to hold back from direct participation. Slow to make up their minds and reach a decision. Tendency to be too cautious and not take enough risks. Not assertive - they aren't particularly forthcoming and have no "small talk". Key questions for reflectors: Shall I be given adequate time to consider, assimilate and prepare? Will there be opportunities/facilities to assemble relevant information? Will there be opportunities to listen to other people's points of view - preferably a wide cross section of people with a variety of views? Shall I be under pressure to be slapdash or to extemporise?
PRAGMATIST:
Pragmatists learn best from activities where: There is an obvious link between the subject matter and a problem or opportunity on the job. They are shown techniques for doing things with obvious practical advantages, i.e. how to save time, how to make a good first impression, how to deal with awkward people. They have the chance to try out and practice techniques with coaching/feedback from a credible expert, i.e. someone who is successful and can do the techniques themselves. They are exposed to a model they can emulate, i.e. a respected boss, a demonstration from someone with a proven track record, lots of examples/anecdotes, and a film showing how it’s done. They are given techniques currently applicable to their own job. They are given immediate opportunities to implement what they have learned. There is a high face validity in the learning activity, i.e. a good simulation, 'real" problems. They can concentrate on practical issues, i.e. drawing up action plans with an obvious end product, suggesting short cuts, giving tips. Pragmatists learn least from, and may react against, activities where: The learning is not related to an immediate need they recognise/they cannot see, an immediate relevance/practical benefit. Organisers of the learning, or the event itself, seems distant from reality, i.e. "ivory towered", all theory and general principles, pure "chalk and talk". There is no practice or clear guidelines on how to do it. They feel that people are going round in circles and not getting anywhere fast enough. There are political, managerial or personal obstacles to implementation. There is no apparent reward from the learning activity, i.e. more sales, shorter meetings, higher bonus, promotion. Summary of strengths: Keen to test things out in practice. Practical, down to earth, realistic. Businesslike - gets straight to the point. Technique oriented. Summary of weaknesses: Tendency to reject anything without an obvious application. Not very interested in theory or basic principles. Tendency to seize on the first expedient solution to a problem. Impatient with waffle. On balance, task oriented not people oriented. Key questions for pragmatists: Will there be ample opportunities to practice and experiment? Will there be lots of practical tips and techniques? Shall we be addressing real problems and will it result in action plans to tackle some of my current problems? Shall we be exposed to experts who know how to/can do it themselves?
