You have probably seen it in an onboarding kit: a quick questionnaire, then a label. Visual, auditory or hands-on. The trainer promises to shape the session around your type. Researchers who went looking for proof of that promise came back with simpler advice: let the content choose the format.
It is a friendly idea, and it feels true. Most of us do prefer some formats over others. And since the 1990s, quick quizzes have given millions of people a type to carry around.
In 2008, psychologist Harold Pashler and three colleagues set out to find the proof. They looked for studies that sorted learners by style, taught some in their preferred format and some in another, and then tested everyone. Such studies were rare, and the few that existed showed no extra benefit from matching the style.¹ Our preferences are real, and they help us enjoy learning. What helps us learn is a format that fits the content.
A floor plan needs a drawing. A negotiation needs role-play. A new pronunciation needs listening, for everyone in the room.
Talent Takeaway
It reminds us to start planning a session with one question: What should people be able to do on Monday morning? The right mix of pictures, talk and practice usually follows from the answer.
¹ Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning styles. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6053.2009.01038.x