Predominant learning style in students from 1st to 5th year of the Nursing career at Santo Tomás University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the predominant learning style in students from 1st to 5th year of the Nursing career, Santo Tomas University, Puerto Montt campus. It is a descriptive research with a quantitative approach, not experimental, since the data collection is obtained in a methodical and logical way from numerical figures, thus achieving the analysis of the data of each Learning Styles Test according to D. Kolb, whose instrument is scientifically validated both in Chile and abroad. The students corresponding to the sample (N = 157) correspond 80% to women (n = 125) and the remaining 20% ??to men (n = 32), who were randomly recruited after taking the final exams of the subjects of the second semester of 2017 who voluntarily and after accepting and signing the informed consent, answered the test. The results of the research determine that of the 157 students from 1st to 5th year of the Nursing career, the predominant learning style is Divergent represented by 52%, (n = 82), followed by the Accommodating style with 28% (n = 44) and the assimilating style represented by 14% (n = 21). Finally, the least predominant learning style in students is the convergent style represented by 6% (n = 10). The results of the research are of great importance for the School of Nursing and its teachers, since the necessary information is obtained about the predominant learning style in nursing students, being able to contribute in a better way in the teaching-learning method of the students in the classrooms and, in parallel, optimizing the integration of knowledge and the training of new and better professionals in the health area.