Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Elder, Anastasia D.
Committee Member
Wei, Tianlan (Elaine)
Committee Member
Brenner, Devon G.
Committee Member
Adams-Price, Carolyn E.
Date of Degree
5-1-2020
Document Type
Dissertation - Open Access
Major
Educational Psychology
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
College
College of Education
Department
Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Foundations
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ availing and nonavailing epistemic beliefs about teaching and learning, with particular focus on beliefs about visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles; the study investigated VAK belief sources and justification, and the ways those beliefs were enacted in classroom practice. 660 teachers in Mississippi were surveyed, with the large majority (94.5%) reporting they believed that students’ learning styles are important for learning. Most teachers had been introduced to the idea in teacher preparation coursework, and few had heard about information suggesting learning styles were not supported by research. Teachers reported that they considered learning styles to be useful for student grouping, assessments, and instructional delivery. Implications for bridging educational psychology research and teacher practices are discussed in light of findings.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/16540
Recommended Citation
Seymour, Dana Jeffcoat, ""Even if the research says it doesn't work, it works:" Teachers' epistemic beliefs and enactment" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 4.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/4