LEARNING STYLES OF OLDER ADULTS AND THE CHANNELS FOR DISSEMINATION OF CLOTHING INFORMATION

The purposes of this study were: (1) to investigate the learning style of older adults, age 55 and over, using the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI), (2) to examine the relationship between learning style and the channels of dissemination used by, and preferred by, older adults for receiving three types of clothing information, (3) to examine the relationship between learning style and selected demographic variables, and (4) to examine the relationship between the channels of dissemination preferred and selected demographic variables. A questionnaire was developed and mailed, along with the LSI, to a sample of 400 older adults living in south central Minnesota. A total of 275 (69%) were returned, of which 246 (61.5%) were usable. The majority of the respondents were female (80.5%). Over half of the sample were 65 to 74 years of age, while nearly 33% were 75 to 84 years of age. Frequencies and percentages were obtained for demographic and other descriptive data. Chi-square, one-way analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance were used to test the stated null hypotheses. The findings of the study led to the following conclusions: (1) The use of the LSI as a guide when selecting channels of dissemination was not affirmed. (2) No support can be given to the relationship between learning style and gender, age, level of education, place of residence, and participation in organized educational activities. (3) Demographic data may be useful as an indicator of the channels of dissemination that are preferred by older adults for receiving clothing information. (4) The media most commonly available to older adults (magazines, newspapers, television) were selected as the most preferred media. (5) The respondents\u27 higher rate of participation in organized educational activities by higher educational level supports previous research which purports a positive relationship between these two variables