The effect of brain hemisphere dominance on learning by computer assisted instruction and the traditional lecture...

Brain hemisphere dominance is reported to effect learning style in that people who are classified as left brain-dominant are believed to be primarily auditory learners and those classified as right brain-dominant are believed to be primarily visual learners. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of brain hemisphere dominance on learning by computer assisted instruction (CAI) and the traditional lecture method. The Wagner Preference Inventory was used to determine brain hemisphere dominance. Content related to the use of Roman numerals was presented using both CAI and the lecture method. A two-way analysis of variance demonstrated an interaction effect between brain hemisphere dominance and teaching method. Subjects classified as right hemisphere-dominant scored higher on the posttest in the CAI group, and left hemisphere-dominant subjects scored higher in the lecture group.