Relationship between personality type and preferred teaching methods for undergraduate college students

Abstract

This empirical study examined the relationship between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality types and preferred teaching methods for 507 Saint Joseph’s College of Maine undergraduate students. The students completed two instruments: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, Form M (Myers, McCaulley, Quenk, & Hammer, 1998), and a 27-item scale that measured preferred teaching methods in the classroom. Descriptive and inferential statistics indicated that the five most prominent personality types were ISFJ, ESFJ, ESFP, ENFP, and ISTJ. Sensing-Feeling (S-F) preference was the most common followed by Sensing-Judging (S-J) preference in the top five personality types. Across all MBTI dichotomies, the students indicated a preference for teaching methods that involved lecturer-student interaction, using some visual tools such as PowerPoint, and demonstrations and practice. The least preferred teaching methods involved unscheduled quizzes, lecture where the professor talks with no visuals, and library research using experiential activities. Significant differences were obtained between the MBTI dichotomies and preferred teaching methods. The results demonstrate the importance of faculty tailoring and adjusting their instruction to accommodate the needs of their students to increase student achievement, motivation, and engagement in their classroom.