A study on the learning styles of law students at a Caribbean tertiary institution

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study assesses the learning styles of law students at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill (UWICH) Faculty of Law (FOL) in the Caribbean, based on age, gender and academic performance, using the Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Style Scale. The study also compared the learning styles of UWICH FOL students with the learning styles of UWICH management students, using a comparator study by Corbin (2017). In our study, using the Grasha-Riechmann rating norms, there was no dominant preferred learning style for law students with all results falling within the moderate range. Within this moderate range, the Collaborative learning style was “first among equals”, as the strongest within the moderate range. Contrastingly, in Corbin’s study, the Collaborative learning style was preferred for management students. In our study, Independent and Collaborative learning styles were significant predictors of academic performance, with the Independent learning style resulting in higher grade point averages (GPAs), and the Collaborative learning style being a predictor of lower GPAs. Contrastingly, Independent and Avoidant learning styles were predictors of academic performance in Corbin’s study. A further longitudinal study into learning styles of UWICH law students and the teaching styles of lecturers is recommended.