Distribution of Gardner's multiple intelligences among students and faculty in associate degree career programs (Howard Gardner)

In 1983, Howard Gardner proposed a Theory of Multiple Intelligences and provided a definition of intellectual strengths which are valued across human cultures and that emphasized differentiated abilities. Relevant literature revealed that the application of the theory has been well established in the K--12 systems. There was little information about the use or application of the theory in the adult, post-secondary, or college setting.; The purpose of this study to was assess the distribution of Gardner's multiple intelligences among students and faculty in associate degree, college credit career/occupational programs at a community college; to determine the differences between the multiple intelligences profile of the students and faculty in various career programs; and to assess and compare the distribution of multiple intelligences among college credit students not enrolled in the selected programs with those enrolled in the programs.; The sample was 246 students and 28 faculty selected from classes enrolled in each of the identified college credit, career/occupational programs at Seminole Community College in the Fall term, 2000. Additionally, 126 students in general psychology classes provided a comparison group. The participants completed the Multiple Intelligences Development Assessment Scale . This self-reported, 119 question, Likert-scale instrument provided data for statistical analysis.; The data revealed that the subjects rated themselves highest in interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences and lowest in musical and naturalistic intelligence. The data indicated patterns within each of the 14 student study groups, the presence of all the intelligences in every group, and even distribution of the development of the intelligences in this population. The faculty in each of the groups generally shared the high and low group scores with their students. The data indicate that there are statistically significant differences between the multiple intelligences of the various groups, but post hoc tests did not indicate between which groups. The comparison group reported higher scores in interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences and lower scores in naturalistic and kinesthetic intelligences. There were statistically significant differences between the career/occupational group and the comparison group.; The self-reported high scores in interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences serve as a critical educational clue for the adult population in community colleges.