learning-styles

3
Judicial people ‘like activities such as writing
critiques, giving opinions, judging people and their
work, and evaluating programs’ (1999, 21). They like to
evaluate rules and procedures; they prefer ‘problems in
which they can analyse and evaluate things and ideas’
(1999, 39).
Sternberg makes three general points about this style.
‘every organisation needs judicial people as well as
legislative and executive ones’ (1999, 40).
‘the same person can and typically will perform all
three of these functions in greater or lesser degree.
But people often feel more comfortable in one role
or another’ (1999, 40).
‘Any number of people who might be legislative in
school might be executive in their choice of clothing
or vice-versa. We thus need to understand styles
in the contexts in which they are expressed’ (1999, 43).
The significance of context is explicitly acknowledged,
but not explored in any detail.
4
Monarchic people are single-minded and driven
by whatever they are single-minded about, and do not
let anything get in the way of them solving a problem.
They tend to be ‘motivated by a single goal or need
at a time’ (1999, 46).
5
Hierarchic people recognise the need to set
priorities, accept complexity and ‘tend to fit well into
organisations because they recognise the need for
priorities’ (1999, 23). ‘They tend to be systematic and
organised in their solutions to problems and in their
decision making’ (1999, 51).
6
Oligarchic people ‘tend to be motivated by several,
often competing goals of equal perceived importance’
(1999, 23). ‘The oligarchic person is a cross between
a monarchic person and a hierarchic one’ (1999, 54).
7
Anarchic people seem to be motivated by ‘a potpourri
of needs and goals that can be difficult for them,
as well as for others, to sort out’ (1999, 23). ‘They are
at risk for anti-social behaviour … they are the students
who challenge teachers, not necessarily on principled
grounds, but rather for the sake of challenging the
teachers or any other authority figures’ (1999, 58).
They can challenge the system and have a potential
for creativity.
Sternberg argues appropriately that these ‘styles
are not in and of themselves good or bad’ (1999, 51),
but it is important to point out that the titles
(eg monarchic, anarchic) he employs are evaluative
and normative.
8
Global individuals ‘prefer to deal with relatively large
and abstract issues. They ignore or don’t like details,
and prefer to see the forest rather than the trees’
(1999, 24).
9
Local individuals ‘like concrete problems requiring
working with details. The danger is they may lose the
forest for the trees’ (1999, 24).
Sternberg argues that: ‘Most people tend to be
either more global or more local: they focus more on
the big picture or more on the small details. But some
people are both: they are equally attentive to the big
picture and to the little details’ (1999, 64).
10
Internal individuals ‘tend to be introverted,
task-oriented, aloof and sometimes socially less
aware. They like to work alone’ (1999, 25).
11
External individuals ‘tend to be extroverted, outgoing
and people-oriented. Often, they are socially sensitive
and … like working with other people wherever possible’
(1999, 25). According to Sternberg, ‘In management,
a distinction is sometimes made between task-oriented
and people-oriented managers. This distinction is
roughly comparable to that between internalists and
externalists’ (1999, 70).
12
Liberal individuals ‘like to go beyond existing rules and
procedures, to maximise change, and to seek situations
that are somewhat ambiguous’ (1999, 26).
13
Conservative individuals ‘like to adhere to existing rules
and procedures, minimise change, avoid ambiguous
situations where possible, and stick with familiar
situations in work and professional life’ (1999, 26).
In general, Sternberg wishes ‘to distinguish
between stylistic leanings and political ones’
(1999, 75). Sternberg argues that the two are probably
only weakly correlated, if at all, and he gives the
example of the US politician, Newt Gingrich, who has
a conservative political philosophy, but a decidedly
liberal personal style.