SOME VARK PRINCIPLES FOR RESEARCHERS

Knowing the important VARK principles will help researchers use VARK appropriately.
1
VARK is about learning and communication so VARK scores may not reflect other
parts of a participants life such as leisure, relationships, recreation
2
Secondly, everyone has four VARK scores, so while we might describe somebody as
Aural or Kinesthetic those are only short labels for use when discussing VARK
informally. A zero VARK score is meaningful because it indicates that there is little
preference to use that mode for learning. So a zero score for Read/write does not mean
they cannot read. It means that they prefer not to use reading and writing as their best
way to learn. Reading and writing may well be useful to them in contexts and
environments other than learning.
3
A VARK preference and a persons ability are not necessarily the same. Some people
who like (preference) to sing may have very little ability at singing.
4
Preferences are not hard-wired at birth. They are altered and changed during the
formative years by experiences, education, peer groups, parenting, culture, language,
careers As preferences are used more often, they strengthen and become more
resistant to change and may require a significant event or long exposure before any
substantial change occurs. For example, an adult students VARK preferences changed
from a Strong Read/write VARK preference (R) to an Aural and a Read/write preference
(AR) after living for several years with her husband, who had a strong Aural preference.
5
It is important to use ones own preferences not somebody elses. Copying the learning
strategies of a successful person may not be effective. Their preferences may not be
yours. Study skills advice should be personalized. Offering general advice may mislead
learners. Everybodys different. That statement endorses that fact.
6
Pictures and images cause problems of definition. Because an image is on a screen
(YouTube, PowerPoint) it may not be helpful for somebody with a VARK Visual
preference. What is in the image(s) will determine its alignment with a learning strategy
for a particular preference. If it is real, concrete, lifelike or an experience that you
can easily relate to it is more likely to be useful for somebody with a VARK
Kinesthetic preference. VARK Visual is defined as graphic i.e. using charts,
diagrams, maps, logos, designs, plans not pictures.
7
VARK resources (questionnaire, helpsheets etc.) are copyright and the name VARK is
trademarked. It is courteous to request permission to use VARK for research to avoid
breaching copyright.
8
VARK is indicative not a measure. Using only sixteen questions, VARK offers an
indication of how learners prefer to learn and, as such, it does not cover the whole range
of variables in a learning style. Technically, VARK is about modal preferences.
9
The most reliable data is the four VARK scores - the raw data from the 16 questions.
Any move away from those scores by aggregating, labeling or providing short
descriptive terms for those scores, will introduce possibilities for error and
misinterpretation. Describing a learner as a Kinesthetic is a label that ignores the fact
that everybody has four VARK scores. Zero is also a score.
10
VARK definitions are very important if the research results are to be meaningful. This
applies especially to the Visual and the Kinesthetic modes that are frequently mis-used.
11
After 50 years in teaching and in faculty development I know of only one way to assess
the teaching preferences of teachers. And that is by direct observation (preferably inclass). VARK does not assess teaching preferences. A skilled and empathetic teacher
will use teaching strategies that meet the needs of the students regardless of his/her own
preferences for learning. A teachers preferences for teaching may or may not align with
his/her preferences for learning.

REQUESTING PERMISSION
It is a courtesy to request permission to use VARK for your research.
Restrictions: VARK copyright materials may not be placed online or on any electronic survey
instrument, or any website, intranet or password-protected site. This applies to using VARK
for research, and all publications, free resources and for all resources made for sale, or for which
fees are charged.
Students or teachers in a high school, college or university are welcome to use the
VARK questionnaire for research by linking to our website You may also use paper copies. We
ask that you provide this acknowledgement:
Copyright Version 7.8 (2015) held by VARK Learn Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand.
VARK VARIATIONS

Users receive their four scores from the 16-Question VARK questionnaire. The four scores come
from the online software which uses the VARK Standard algorithm (or the VARK Research
algorithm). They provide a short description of their preferences as and are termed a VARK
Profile. There are 25 different profiles delivered from the VARK algorithms.
1. Visual mild, strong, very strong (3)
2. Aural mild, strong, very strong (3)
3. Read/write mild, strong, very strong (3)
4. Kinesthetic mild, strong, very strong (3)
13. VA
14. VR
15. VK
16. AR
17. AK
18. RK
19. VAR
20. ARK
21. VRK
22. VAK
23. VARK Type One (for those who are multimodal with a total score less than 26).
24. VARK Type Two (for those who are multimodal with total scores above 29).
25. VARK Transition (for those who are multimodal with total scores of 26-29 inclusive.
We provide 5-9 pages of text, customised to the VARK scores, and written for each profile and
sold to those who want to learn how they learn best.
Each of these can be varied by their four scores. For each individual, the scores for each VARK
mode range from 0 to 16. As a consequence, a mild Read/write Profile with scores of 4, 4, 6 and 3
could have some text in the 5-9 pages that is different from a mild Read/write Profile with scores of
5, 5, 10 and 6.
For research purposes the 25 profiles above could be collapsed into the following:
Two groups: Aggregating those with single preferences and those with multimodal preferences.
Four groups: Aggregating Singe Preferences (12), Bimodal (6), Trimodal (4) and all four
VARK (3)
Four groups: Aggregating all the profiles with some Visual in their makeup, and then all those
with some Aural etc.. Double counting is involved.

Five groups: Four single preference profiles and aggregating all the multimodal profiles.
Seventeen groups: Four single-preference profiles (4), bimodal profiles (6), trimodal profiles (4),
and the all VARK profiles (3).
There are other possibilities but it is important that with any aggregation for research, some
important distinctions in the total data will be lost.
HELP with DATA ANALYSIS

Gathering your Data: We can assist. If you are using paper copies of the VARK questionnaires
for your research we can analyze your data into the VARK Profile descriptions (above) without a
fee. We need each of your cohorts four VARK scores summed from the questionnaire. An
EXCEL file is best.
We have two scoring algorithms and one is designed specifically for research using standard
deviations. The information about each system is at these web addresses.
http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=whatsnew
www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=advice
If paper copies of VARK are not appropriate, or possible, we can gather your data for you. Our
system does not need installation on your IT system. You get to manage the site and to download
your results. This VARK Subscription Service is demonstrated on our website and the cost for six
months for a research project is approximately $US85 as at August 2015.
If you would like to use data from our VARK database we may be able to provide it. Much will
depend on the appropriateness of your research design.
VALIDATION
The most thorough research evaluation of VARK and validation was completed by Walter Leite, et
al in:
Leite, W. L., Svinicki, M. & Shi, Y. (2010). Attempted Validation of the Scores of the VARK:
Learning Styles Inventory With Multitrait-Multimethod Confirmatory Factor Analysis Models.
Educational and Psychological Measurement. 70, 323-339. The link for that article is:
http://epm.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/70/2/323
The VARK database presents some difficulties for researchers because of its design. Because life is
multimodal the questionnaire allows for multiple answers to each question. That rules out using
many of the statistical packages that require single responses for testing. Some researchers have
treated each of the four responses to each question as testlets and used them for various statistical
packages but that invalidates the most important and basic premise of VARK that allows for
multiple answers. Some have reduced each research participant to a single profile i.e. she is
Kinesthetic and he is Read/write. That also ignores the fact that each person has four scores
from the VARK questionnaire. Labeling a person as having only one preference is incorrect. Some
have chosen to use a persons highest score as the determining category for analysis but that too is
problematic because there are differences between Candidate A with scores of 6, 5, 4, and 3 and
Candidate B with scores of 6, 2, 2, 2. That same approach also cannot deal with equal scores e.g.
6, 6, 2, 2 or with scores where the highest is insignificant when compared with the total number of
responses e.g. Participant X has scores of 13, 12, 12, 12. To claim that her score of 13 for the Visual
mode is the defining score is erroneous.
INAPPROPRIATE ASSUMPTIONS AND MATCHING

Some researchers have attempted to base their work on connections and differences between
teaching methods and students VARK scores. The assumption, often made, is that if teachers use
all four modes they will improve the learning success (however measured) of the students. To set up

such a research design they often assume that a teacher can teach in a particular single mode. They
contrast that with a teacher who uses several VARK modes or another single VARK mode. And
search for differences (often correlation statistics). In one classic (and poor) example the researcher
chose to teach learners to swim using each of the four modes in (supposed) isolation. That was not
possible. Firstly, learning to swim is essentially a Kinesthetic experience and any trainer/coach/
teacher is likely to use other modes. It is impossible to only use Visual techniques or Aural
techniques or Read/write techniques or Kinesthetic techniques to teach anything. Teaching and
training behaviours cannot easily be controlled and differences between VARK modes blur when
used in these ways.
VARK is about how students learn, not how teachers teach. It is possible that a student who
prefers to learn using Visual strategies will still learn effectively from someone who emphasises
Read/write methods. It is how the student learns, recalls, practices and studies that has to match
their own preferences, not matching a teachers methods. After observing some 9000 lessons in
classrooms I concluded that it is what the learner does that makes for success rather than what the
teacher does. A research design that requires a teacher to teach in a particular mode is likely to be a
waste of time and effort.
One researcher decided that VARK scoring was too complicated and chose to define the
participants by their highest VARK score. If a participants scores for V, A R and K were 5, 6, 7
and 8 he/she was given the research label Kinesthetic for the analysis as that was their highest score.
Clearly the research was a waste of time and effort. VARK provides a score for each preference
and each needs to play a part in any meaningful analysis. In another example a researcher wanted
to know why the VARK Research Algorithm (based on standard deviations from means) indicated
that a participant was labelled as mild Visual although her score for Visual was equal to her score
for Kinesthetic. Why wasnt she V and K, he asked. Because of the way the Research
Algorithm is structured the correct analysis (mild Visual) meant that a score of 7 was between one
and two standard deviations above the mean for all Visual scores in the database used to form the
algorithm. The database has a higher mean score for all Kinesthetic scores so her score of 7 for
Kinesthetic was less than one standard deviation above the mean. In lay and simple terms, her
scores of 7+ for Kinesthetic are more commonly found in the database than scores of 7+ for Visual.
VARK modes merge in many presentation techniques. Consider a YouTube video. It may show a
person talking and responding to questions (largely Aural) and demonstrating with examples how to
achieve something (Kinesthetic) with some written text or accompanying notes (Read/write) and
some explanatory diagrams (Visual).
In a similar way VARK blurs within what would seem to be a very definite single mode
presentations. Asking a student to write an essay would appear to be singularly Read/write in
emphasis. However, if the essay topic is about the dialogue in a play or, the language used in a
movie, or video, it may well incorporate aspects that suit a person with an Aural preference. If the
essay topic is worded in a way that appeals to the experiences of the learner (real, concrete,
actual,) it will have Kinesthetic connections. It is not difficult to perceive that one could speak
kinesthetically or write aurally or demonstrate visually. As you read the four essay topics (below)
consider this question. Which essay question would best suit a person with a strong Visual, or
strong Aural, or strong Read/write or strong Kinesthetic preference for learning?
Question One: Describe from your own experiences changes you have observed in the past five years in
the moral behaviour of your peer group.

BOOK DOWNLOADS
You may find the VARK books helpful. They are all available as immediate and inexpensive

downloads. They are sent immediately after payment, so don't shut down your computer until the
book arrives as a PDF on your browser.
OTHER SOURCES OF ADVICE FOR RESEARCHERS
The website (www.vark-learn.com) has a number of articles that help researchers. These can be downloaded
from the website.

Not Another Inventory, Rather a Catalyst for Reflection

Published in: To Improve the Academy, Vol. 11, 1992, Page 137.
Authors: Neil D. Fleming and Colleen Mills.
The Nature of Preference
Neil Fleming
2009 VARK Scoring Trial
Neil Fleming
Im different; not dumb: Modes of presentation (V.A.R.K) in the tertiary classroom.
Neil Fleming
Learning Styles Again: VARKing up the right tree! Neil Fleming, Educational Developer and
David Baume, FSEDA, Higher Education Consultant
The Case Against Learning Styles
Neil Fleming.
Facts, Fallacies and Myths: VARK and Learning Preferences
Neil Fleming.