Learning style preferences of undergraduate dental students at Queen’s University, Belfast

Understanding the learning style of students can be effective in organizing and modifying the learning environment and the teaching and learning process. There are several methods to measure learning styles and the VARK questionnaire is the most widely used. The aim of this study was to investigate the learning style preferences of clinical dental students using the VARK questionnaire and to establish whether learning style preferences were influenced by gender. Following a favourable review by the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Faculty REC) in accordance with the Proportionate Review process, the study protocol and a link to the VARK questionnaire was distributed to fourth and fifth year undergraduate dental students at Queen’s University via email. A total of 86 fourth- and fifth-year dental students (72%) completed the questionnaire. 69% preferred multimodal learning styles. The most common learning style was quad modal (VARK) at 41%. There was no relationship between learning style and gender. Multimodal learning style appears to be the preferred learning style in clinical undergraduate dental students. This information could be used to develop effective teaching approaches that could maximize student motivation, learning and performance.