Busting The Learning Myths

There's a great round-up of opinions from L&D professionals on the topic of learning styles in this eLearn article, 'Why Is the Research on Learning Styles Still Being Dismissed By Some Learning Leaders and Practitioners?' [2] And in her blog, internationally renowned training designer Cathy Moore investigates research studies and provides a useful overview of the evidence. [3]

Myth 2: Left Brain/Right Brain Thinking

It's often been thought that some people use the left-hand side of their brain more, which makes them logical, detail-oriented and analytical, while some people use the right-hand side, making them more creative and spontaneous.

The reality: despite many research studies over the years looking at how the brain functions, no evidence has been found that comprehensively proves this theory. One study by the University of Utah did discover that there were some patterns that showed certain brain functions occurring in one or other side of the brain. However, the brain scans they took from over 1,000 people showed no evidence that the study participants had a more dominant left or right-sided brain network. [4] [5]

The study confirms that the two hemispheres of the brain are closely linked and communicate extensively together - they don't work in isolation at all. Therefore people cannot rely on their 'creative' faculties without using their 'analytical' ones, and vice versa. For example, an author may use their imagination to create ideas, but they then need to use logic and sequencing to put the words together in the right order for their story to make sense.

Myth 3: We Only Remember 10% of What We Read

Another common fiction is that people remember:

• 10% of what they read
• 20% of what they hear
• 30% of what they see
• 90% of what they do

The reality: these figures have been bandied about for many years but there is no empirical research to back them up. Edgar Dale's 'Cone of Experience' (a model created to explain the inter-relationship of various types of audio-visual media) has been frequently cited as the basis for these figures but his original diagram contains no percentages at all and there was no research used to generate the model. So why does the myth persist? Perhaps its because many of us would like to believe that there is plenty of untapped potential in our brain, and that we could achieve so much more if only we could unlock it (think Bradley Cooper in the movie Limitless or Scarlett Johansson in Lucy).

Dr Will Thalheimer dissects this myth in great detail, investigating the research claims and the dangers of disseminating bogus information in his article, 'People Remember 10%, 20%...Oh, Really?' [6]

Myth 4: 93% of Our Communication is Non-Verbal

Conventional theory holds that 93% of communication is non-verbal (55% is body language, 38% tone of voice) and 7% is content. This theory is often attributed to the work of Dr Albert Mehrabian, who conducted various studies on verbal and non-verbal communication to investigate the relative impact of emotion, facial expression and spoken words. [7] While the results of these studies were published in psychology journals and in Mehrabian's books, they were also widely circulated in the press in a condensed form, leading to a misunderstanding of the original research and inaccurate generalizations of the results, which are still perpetuated today.

The reality: although Mehrabian's model is useful when demonstrating the impact of factors such as tone, body language and facial expression on the meaning of communication, it should be applied with care. Mehrabian's research showed that tone and voice did actually account for 93% of the meaning inferred by people in the experiments, but this rule is not applicable over every given communication scenario. For example, how can an email or letter convey only 7% of meaning? Is it really possible to watch a person speaking a foreign language and understand 93% of what they are saying?

The spoken word has so many intangible components - emotions, values, meaning, beliefs, attitudes - that it's impossible to quantify. These components make communication rich, moving and, above all, human. Words, tone and body language are the only avenues of communication available to humans, to relate our individual experiences, understandings and feelings. A combination of these factors makes for far richer communication and learning.

Myth 5: Learning Needs to be Formal to be Effective

Of course, one of the biggest misconceptions about learning is that it has to involve sending people off on a course. It doesn't.

The reality: while this can be a valid way of acquiring new skills, formal learning can also be costly, time consuming and, often, not even necessary. Instead, consider taking a blended approach to learning, which can include a range of forms, such as online learning and performance support tools, alongside traditional face-to-face methods. It can also combine with other, less formal, modes of learning like delegating tasks, on-the-job coaching, mentoring, working on new projects and even discussions between employees, all of which are very effective methods of development too. Simply creating an environment where your people feel that they can come to you to ask questions opens up the possibility for learning.

Conclusion

There is much evidence to suggest that each one of these myths is incorrect. However, they are routinely taken at face value, and sometimes entire learning initiatives are based on these claims.

It's important to question sweeping claims like those made above. Evidence should always be sought for statements of this nature, because if they are challenged by learners, credibility may be undermined. By questioning and debunking these myths, we can ultimately help people learn more effectively.