Learning styles, VARK and online courses: what the research says
Learning-style inventories like VARK are popular and fun to take. But should they decide which online course you buy?
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What are learning styles?
Learning-style models classify people by how they supposedly prefer to take in information. VARK, developed by Neil Fleming, sorts preferences into Visual, Aural, Read/write and Kinesthetic. Other inventories, such as Kolb's, use different categories.
What the research says
The popular idea is the "meshing hypothesis": that you learn better when teaching matches your style. A well-known 2008 review by Pashler, McDaniel, Rohrer and Bjork in Psychological Science in the Public Interest found little rigorous evidence supporting it. Preferences are real; the benefit of matching instruction to them is not well supported.
What to do instead
- Match the format to the content: diagrams for systems, hands-on practice for software, audio for language listening.
- Use evidence-based techniques like retrieval practice and spacing — see our active learning guide.
- Pick platforms with practice and feedback built in: Coursera, Skillshare, or interactive tools like DataCamp.
Are inventories useless then?
Not entirely — taking one can prompt useful reflection on how you study. Just don't let a label stop you from trying formats outside your "style".
Further reading
- Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning styles: Concepts and evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3).
- Fleming, N. D., & Mills, C. (1992). Not another inventory, rather a catalyst for reflection. To Improve the Academy, 11.
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