LEARNING STYLE DIFFERENCES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL PUPILS FROM 4 ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS

The drop-out rate among American high school students, particularly among African-Americans and Hispanics, is increasing rapidly. Poor academic achievement is a variable that is predictive of dropouts. The study explores learning style differences in ethnic populations and ways to accommodate these differences in the educational environment to enhance student success. Results of the study indicate that 12 variables on the Learning Styles Inventory significantly discriminate between four ethnic groups (White, Asian, Hispanic and African-American). Thus, because ethnic related variables may impact upon middle school students' perceptions of the learning experience, it is suggested that learning experiences should be designed to complement the learning styles of the different ethnic groups.