Examining gifted students preferred learning styles in Spain

This study analyzed how intellectually gifted students learn by examining the different learning styles they use when facing academic tasks. For this purpose, a sample of 206 students with high intellectual abilities from Spanish schools responded to an adapted version of the Honey-Alonso Learning Styles Questionnaire. Results indicated a stronger inclination toward theoretical learning, though students did not exclusively identify with a single style. Additionally, statistically significant differences emerged when examining their fields of interest in relation to their learning styles: students interested in sports had lower mean scores in scientific-technical and sociolinguistic areas than those who preferred reflective learning. For other variables, mean differences were not statistically significant. These findings highlight the need to continue researching the specific educational needs of these students and how they navigate day-to-day teaching and learning processes, with the goal of promoting a balanced academic progression through the educational stages.