Preferred Learning Styles Of Adult Learners In Adult Literacy Centres Of Abia State

ABSTRACT

 The study surveyed preferred learning styles of adult learners in adult literacy centres in Abia state. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The area of the study was Abia state. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. A sample size of 1,032 respondents comprising 599 male adult learners and 433 female adult learners in adult literacy centres in Abia state were drawn through the use of proportionate stratified random sampling technique from a target population of 10,322. A 4-point rating scale questionnaire with face validity ascertained by three expert was the instrument used for 12 data collection. Reliability index values of 0.85, 0.93, 0.87 and 0.97 respectively for the four clusters as a measure of internal consistency were obtained through Cronbach Alpha method. The 1,032 copies of questionnaires were administered with the help of four briefed research assistants through direct delivery and recovery method. All the 1,032 copies of the instrument were returned and used for data analysis. Research questions were answered using frequency counts, mean scores and standard deviation, while the hypotheses were tested using t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that adult learners to a high extent preferred visual, auditory, kinesthetic learning styles in adult literacy centres in Abia state. Also, adult learners to a low extent preferred environmental learning styles in adult literacy centres in Abia state. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made; that Kinesthetic and environmental learning styles should be encouraged in order to create new events and ideas, government should outline related rules that will guide the various learning styles in adult literacy learning centers among others