Analysis of the dominant mode of thinking of university students in different fields of studies using the four brain model of Hermann

Abstract

In the university context teachers usually design different learning activities which may result in unequal results. Among many others, one of the factors that should be considered is personal thinking mode, which is related to the way each person reasons and learns. This study extends the results about the thinking style of students obtained in a previous one [1], with more students and more degrees. The thinking style has been identified with a simplified questionnaire based on the Hermann’s four brain model in which four brain profiles are identified: A (logical), B (sequential), C (interpersonal) and D (imaginative). Students from Journalism, Industrial Design, Business Administration and Computational Math with Computer Engineer have participated in this study. The results show that in the degree of Journalism the main profile is B nearly followed by D. In the degree of Industrial Design Engineering the main profile is D. In the degree of Computational Math the main profile is A. Profile B, is the most common in Business Administration. This results are compared with previous ones and can help teachers to understand how their students think and, therefore, to develop learning activities in a more successful way.