Personality Types and Learning Styles of Collegiate Aviation Students

Abstract

The personality types and learning styles of students have been studied across education populations, yet the research analyzing aviation students is lacking. A replication study assessed the distribution of personality types and learning styles of students enrolled in the aeronautical science baccalaureate degree program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Form M and the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (KLSI) were used to analyze the personality types and learning styles, respectively. When compared to the personality type distribution of the traditional college student sample using a selection ratio type table, a significant overrepresentation of the personality type of ISTJ was found among the aviation students (I = 4.36, p < .001). The distribution of learning styles of the aviation students were also compared to the traditional college student sample; Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests revealed an overrepresentation of divergent learners, χ2 (3) = 7.40,p = .002. A Pearson Chi-square test for independence examined if personality type is a predictive factor of aviation student learning preference and found no evidence to support a relationship in the sample.