Influence of learning styles on student performance in self-instructional courses

This study aimed to analyze the learning style of dentistry students in self-instructional courses to assist in pedagogical planning and to choose the most appropriate educational resources for the students’ learning profile. A sample of 122 students who responded to the Learning Styles Questionnaire was analyzed. For statistical purposes, correlation analysis, chi-square test, odds ratio, and Student’s t-test were performed. In the analyzed sample, there was a higher prevalence of students in the theoretical and reflector styles, and a lower prevalence of students in the activist and pragmatic styles. An analysis of educational resources demonstrated the predominance of theoretical and reflective content. The data show a statistically significant reduction of about 74% in the chances of passing for the activist-pragmatists group compared to other students (χ(2)(1, N = 122) = 5.795, p < 0.05, odds ratio = 0.26). On the other hand, reflector students who exhibited a lower preference for the activist style had a higher chance of course completion, with a 3.33-fold increase in the likelihood of passing the course (χ(2)(1, N = 122) = 5.637, p < 0.05, odds ratio = 3.33). These findings highlight the importance of considering students’ learning styles in educational planning and resource selection to optimize student performance. Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings and to investigate additional factors that may influence student success in self-instructional courses.