Learning style differences between Japan and Thailand: A case of Japanese multinationals

We compared various aspects of learning styles between Japan and Thailand through the lens of experiential learning theory. A total of 398 participants who work for Japanese multinational corporations were surveyed and examined with controlling age, gender, work experience periods, and hierarchical management positions. Results showed that the two country difference significantly impacted all learning style variables concerning a dialectical learning dimension of feeling and thinking, In the process of learning, for example, Japanese employees learned through more feeling and less thinking, whereas Thai employees learned equally applying the four learning modes of feeling, thinking, reflecting, and action. Although the learning style of Japanese employees indicated diverging on average, the analysis of their learning style distribution revealed that accommodating was most dominated. Thai employees were categorized in accommodating learning style that was not so specialized at feeling and acting modes. Instead, they possessed balanced learning style as their distinctive characteristic. Based on those findings, we discussed theoretical and practical implications.