ADAPTATION OF THE FELDER-SOLOMAN INDEX OF LEARNING STYLES (ILS) INTO TURKISH AND AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS MEASUREMENT QUALITY

Abstract

Abstract: The Index of Learning Styles (ILS) is a questionnaire (in English) used to measure preferences of learners on the four dimensions of the Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model (LSM): Active-Reflective, Sensory-Intuitive, Visual-Verbal, and Sequential-Global. To make it suitable for Turkish learners and researchers, we provided a definitive translation of the ILS into Turkish, which we refer to as the Turkish Index of Learning Styles, (T)ILS. To verify the translation, multiple forward and back translation techniques were used and four translators employed. The reliability and validity of the (T)ILS were also checked by conducting two different test administrations to 63 undergraduate students in Turkey. The (T)ILS has the highest Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability values among other studies that have tested its validity and reliability. Besides, no significant differences were found between mean scores of the two test administrations. Furthermore, the factor structure gave evidence of construct validity. Recommendations on further work of (T)ILS are also discussed.

Keywords

• Learning Styles
• Index of Learning Styles
• Multiple Forward Translation Technique
• Back Translation Technique
• Reliability
• Validity