Learning styles diversity: Implications for the organizational culture of university student cohorts

This study examined the correlation of learning styles diversity and the perception of behavioral norms related to general types of organizational culture. The Learning Styles Inventory and the Organizational Culture Inventory were the two instruments which determined the data used to test hypotheses regarding this correlation. Both are extremely well known instruments which have been previously used in a wide variety of organizational settings. Pearson's (product moment) correlation coefficient was utilized for the statistical analysis. The organizations studied were fourteen student cohorts of adult degree completion students at a small private Midwestern university. 132 students participated in this study. Learning styles are important to instructional pedagogy, but they also have implications to the organizational behavior considerations of group dynamics, group learning, group culture, and learning organizations. These are the organizational considerations which were the focus of this study and examined in the review of the literature. Correlation between learning styles diversity in an organization and that organization's perception of behavioral norms related to general types of organizational culture is one aspect of organizational behavior that had not been previously examined. Results from this study showed weak to very weak correlations and no statistical significance between learning styles diversity and all twelve of the perceived behavioral norms associated with Constructive, Passive/Defensive, and Aggressive/Defensive organizational cultures. These were unexpected findings and contradict some existing literature. They do, however, contribute to a growing body of knowledge about student cohort organizations. Implications for the studied university are described, and implications for further research are explored.