The Index of Learning Styles: An Investigation of its Reliability and Concurrent Validity with the Preference Test

Author(s): Jeremy E. C. Genovese

DOI: https://doi.org/10.65030/idr.02014

Abstract: The Index of Learning Styles (ILS) is a widely used instrument for assessing student learning styles. To examine its reliability and validity, the ILS and the Preference Test (PT), a hemispheric cognitive style instrument, were administered to 131 educational psychology students. Reliability analysis found the Sequential - Global scale of the ILS to have unacceptably low reliability. In addition, the Sequential - Global scale did not correlate with the PT, which measures a similar construct. Factor analysis of the ILS suggests a two-factor structure. This research raises questions about the validity of the ILS constructs and argues that widespread classroom use of the ILS cannot be justified at this time.

Keywords: Learning styles; Psychometrics; Construct validity; Reliability; Factor analysis; Cognitive style; Educational psychology

Pages: 169-174

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