How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l

Practise your skills Thinking styles l Thinking style questionnaire

Thinking style questionnaire

Complete the questionnaire below to find out about your thinking style.

Part 1

Read each statement below. Choose and highlight the word (or words) in either Column
A or Column B that is most like you.

Statement Column A Column B

When I listen to a song,
words music
I pay most attention to the…
I act on my hunches… seldom often
I am best at… word games physical games
After a movie I’m most likely to remember… individual scenes the plot
I like to have my job… carefully planned flexible
My closets and shelves are… well organised cluttered
I would rather get directions… out loud from a map
When putting together something new I… read directions figure it out
I enjoy activities most that are… mental physical
I dream… seldom often
I like to work on projects… one by one several at a time
I am better at… spelling art
I daydream… seldom often
I try new things… seldom often
I prefer to learn by… listening doing
I would rather… explain directions draw a map
Maths is something I… enjoy dislike
I pay most attention to… what people say how it is said
My sense of direction is… poor good
I lose track of time… seldom often
Total

© WestOne Services 2010 COMM1398 Page 1 of 2

 How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l
Practise your skills Thinking styles l Thinking style questionnaire

Part 2

Complete the ‘Total’ row by counting up the number of highlighted words in Column A
and Column B.

Part 3

If you have more highlighted words in Column A, you are more of a left brain thinker.

If you need to be more creative, practise right brain thinking by:

• Brainstorming – think of as many ideas as possible to solve a problem or do a task.

Don’t judge ideas – just write them down and sort out the ideas later.
• Drawing a mind map – create a visual image of information.
• Doing something different – join an art class, learn a musical instrument or read a
magazine that you wouldn’t usually read.
• Breaking your routines – study somewhere different, talk to new people or do things
in a different order.
• Thinking about a project or subject using your five senses – what do you see, hear,
feel, smell and taste?

If you have more highlighted words in Column B, you are more of a right brain thinker.

If you need to be more logical and analytical, practise left brain thinking by:

• Prioritising – decide what is most important, which things should be done first and
what is the most logical sequence to follow.
• Making lists – ordering the list by putting the most important thing at the top of the
list.
• Organising your time – use a schedule, diary or calendar to organise your day,
week, month or year.
• Project management – starting projects early and finishing before deadline.
• Setting goals – work out what you want to achieve, with specific deadlines to
monitor progress.
• Organising your workspace – start finding things you need with ease.

© WestOne Services 2010 COMM1398 Page 2 of 2

 How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l
Practise your skills Strong intelligences l Seven intelligences questionnaire

Seven intelligences questionnaire

Complete the questionnaire below to find out about your strong intelligences.

Part 1

Circle the letters of all the descriptions that you feel apply to yourself:

A I easily remember nice turns of phrase or memorable quotes and use them
easily in conversation.

B I sense quickly when someone I am with is troubled about something.

C I am fascinated by scientific and philosophical questions like ‘When did

time begin?’

D I can find my way around a new area or neighbourhood very quickly.

E I am regarded as quite graceful and rarely feel awkward in my movements.

F I can sing on key.

I regularly read the science pages of a newspaper and look at magazines

G on science and technology.

I note people’s errors in using words or grammar, even if I don’t

H correct them.

I I can often figure out how something works or how to fix something that is
broken, without asking for help.

J I can readily imagine how other people play the roles they do in their work
or families, and I can imaginatively see myself in other roles.

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 How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l
Practise your skills Strong intelligences l Seven intelligences questionnaire

K I can remember in detail the layout and landmarks of places I have

visited on holidays.

L I enjoy music and have favourite performers.

M I like to draw.

N I like to dance well.

O I organise things in the kitchen, bathroom and at my desk according to

categories and/or in patterns.

P I feel confident in interpreting what other people are feeling.

Q I like to tell stories and am considered a good storyteller.

R I sometimes enjoy different sounds in my environment.

S When I meet new people, I often make connections between their

characteristics and those of other acquaintances.

T I feel I have a keen sense of what I can and can’t do.

Part 2

The seven intelligences

• Linguistic intelligence (A, H, Q)

• Logical/Mathematical intelligence (C, G, O)
• Visual/Spatial intelligence (D, K, M)
• Musical intelligence (F, L, R)
• Bodily/Physical intelligence (E, I, N)
• Interpersonal intelligence (B, J, S)
• Intrapersonal intelligence (J, P, T)

The bracket (or brackets) with the most circled letters show your strongest intelligence
or intelligences.

© WestOne Services 2010 COMM1398 Page 2 of 2

 How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l
Practise your skills Sensory modes l Sensory modes questionnaire

Sensory modes questionnaire

Complete the questionnaire below to find out about your preferred sensory mode.

Part 1

For each question, highlight your preferred choice or choices (you may choose all three,
just two, only one or even none).

1. On a rainy day, do you prefer to:

a. read?
b. listen to music?
c. play games?

2. What do you like most about thunderstorms?

a. the bright lightning and the look of the clouds
b. the sound of the rain on the roof and the thunderclaps
c. the smell of the rain and static in the air.

3. When you are trying to concentrate, what most distracts you?

a. movement outside the window
b. sounds of people talking
c. itches, uncomfortable clothes, heat or cold.

4. You like your room to be:

a. neat and pleasing to the eye
b. quiet and peaceful
c. comfortable – it doesn’t matter if it is a mess.

5. What disturbs you most about when you are trying to sleep?
a. lights shining into the room
b. noises and outside conversation
c. movements of others.

6. Do you prefer:
a. colourful, appealing clothes?
b. any type of clothing – you don’t mind very much?
c. comfortable clothes?

© WestOne Services 2010 COMM1398 Page 1 of 3

 How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l
Practise your skills Sensory modes l Sensory modes questionnaire

7. When a lecturer or trainer is talking, do you like to:

a. watch the person talk and move?
b. listen carefully?
c. take notes or draw, perhaps scribble pictures?

8. Think of the best teacher you ever had. Did that person:
a. use lots of pictures and the overhead projector?
b. read and talk out loud a lot?
c. get you to write lots of notes and/or do activities?

9. What is the best way for you to remember something?

a. read it again and again
b. say it over and over
c. write it down a number of times.

10. To indicate you understand, which of the following would you say?
a. ‘I see what you mean.’
b. ‘I hear what you are saying.’
c. ‘I get what you mean.’

11. To indicate you are paying attention, which of the following would you say:
a. ‘I’m watching.’
b. ‘I’m listening.’
c. ‘I’m following.’

12. To ask someone to repeat instructions, would you say:

a. ‘Will you show me that again, please?’
b. ‘Will you say that again, please?’
c. ‘Will you go over that again, please?’

13. To indicate that you can accept an invitation, which of the following would you say?
a. ‘Looks fine/OK/good.’
b. ‘Sounds fine/OK/good.’
c. ‘Seems fine/OK/good.’

14. To agree with a person, which of the following would you say?
a. ‘I can see that.’
b. ‘It sounds good to me.’
c. ‘That feels right to me.’

15. To tell a friend about a piece of news on television, which of the following would you say?
a. ‘I saw this interesting program the other day.’
b. ‘I heard a fascinating thing the other day.’
c. ‘I came across an interesting piece of news the other day.’

© WestOne Services 2010 COMM1398 Page 2 of 3

 How to research and plan your learning l How you learn l
Practise your skills Sensory modes l Sensory modes questionnaire

Part 2

Count up the number of ‘a.’, ‘b.’ and ‘c.’ choices you highlighted and then write the totals
in the space provided.

Total ‘a.’ choices: Total ‘b.’ choices: Total ‘c.’ choices:

Part 3

The highest number of choices you made shows your preferred sensory mode.

If you had a majority of a. choices, your preferred sensory mode is visual (seeing).

If you had a majority of b. choices, your preferred sensory mode is auditory (hearing).

If you had a majority of c. choices , your preferred sensory mode is

kinaesthetic (feeling).

If you had an equal spread of ‘a.’, ‘b.’ and/or ‘c.’ choices, then you use a combination of
those sensory modes.

© WestOne Services 2010 COMM1398 Page 3 of 3