Beliefs Regarding Approaches to Study and Learning Styles: The Primacy of Gender as the Mediating Variable

Abstract

The present study is an outcome of the findings of an exploratory qualitative study which revealed that about half the male learners in the sample, but none in the women’s sample, pursuing various Masters’ Programmes at IGNOU, felt that there are distinct gender differences in abilities as well as differences in the way in which men and women approach and transact learning tasks (Sharma Sen & Samdup, 2008). The present quantitative study is an attempt to explore these findings further using a wider base. Thus the objective of the study is to uncover beliefs held by people, if any, about gender differences in cognitive abilities and gender differences in approaches to study/ learning characteristics/ learning styles as a function of • residence in a particular state • residence in a particular location (rural/urban), • enrolment in a particular programme of study and • gender