Correlation Between Learning Styles and Online Interaction among Postgraduate Students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026488Abstract
Learning styles in relation to online interaction is still a belligerent issue especially at postgraduate level, online teaching and learning are vital, their successes or failures depends so much on interaction. Although learning style is widely considered to be a determinant of online interactions among students, yet very few studies have established relationship between the two. This research aimed at finding out the relationship between learning style and online interaction of the postgraduate students of the University Technology Malaysia (UTM). The study used survey questionnaire as an instrument for data collection, convenience systematic sampling technique was used, a total of 210 questionnaires were distributed to the post-graduate students of the UTM, and 150 questionnaires were fully completed and returned. VARK inventory version 7.8 was integrated into a survey to identify the learning styles of the participants, The data obtained was analyzed statistically, eventually the responses were classified into four learning styles: visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic; while the other aspect of the questionnaire captured data on online interaction of the respondents, correlations between participants’ learning styles and online interaction was statistically computed using SPSS nonparametric tool- Chi Square. The results indicated that kinesthetic was the preferred learning style of the respondents and there was no relationship between learning style and online interaction. This research extends earlier studies by finding out if really students use VARK learning styles to learn, the study is of great importance to both instructors and students.
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