INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTS OF THE USE OF LEARNING STYLES ON STUDENTS’ LEARNING LEVELS IN SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING

The concept of learning styles has been one of the hottest research topics in the science andmathematics education research in recent years. But, that is not the case for the research insocial studies education. Aimed at addressing the gap in the literature, this study investigatedthe effects of teaching methods and techniques compatible with learning styles on students’learning levels in social studies. Quantitative research methods were used in the study to gatherand analyze data. Learning Styles Inventory and Social Studies Achievement Test were used asdata collection tools. Gathered data were analyzed via SPSS computer packet program. Thepre and post test results of the achievement test administered to the students in control andexperiment group have clearly indicated that teaching methods and techniques that addressstudents’ learning styles are effective in terms of promoting students’ success or learninglevels in social studies. The increase in the experiment group students’ post test scores on theachievement test were caused not by student demographic variables (age, gender, parents’education levels, and parents’ occupations) but by the teaching program based on learningstyles.