This document discusses individual differences and their effects on learning. It defines individual differences as the traits that distinguish one person from another, such as physical and psychological characteristics. Three main factors that influence learning are socioeconomic status, thinking/learning styles, and exceptionalities. Learning styles refer to how a person best receives information, such as visually, auditorily, or tactilely. Thinking styles are how a person best processes information, such as linear or global thinking. While people have dominant styles, using a variety of styles is necessary to complete complex tasks. Individual differences are what make each person unique in their learning abilities.

1. Assignment
Subject: Human Development
Topic: Individual Differences
Presented by: Nazish Jamali
Batch: 2016
Semester: 02
Submission Date: 17-11-2016

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Contents
Objectives…………………………………………………03
Individual difference………………………………………04
Effects of Individual Differences on learning…………….05
Socioeconomic Status …………………………………….05
Thinking/Learning Style ………………………………..….06
Exceptionalities …………………………………………….07
Difference between learning and thinking styles ……….08
Learning Styles……………………………………………..08
Thinking Style………………………………………………08
Conclusion…………………………………………………12
Reference

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Objectives
After this lesson Students will be able to know about
1. Individual Difference
2. Effects of Individual differences on learning
3. Difference Between Learning and Thinking Styles
4. What is learning Style?
5. What is Thinking Style?

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INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Individual differences stand for “those” differences which in their
totality distinguish one individual from another.
It is often said that no two individuals are exact duplicates they
differ from each other in some way or the other. Such a similarity
or difference between persons reveals individual differences.
It happens in our day-to-day life when we see people around us.
A question comes to mind; how and why people appear similar or
different to each other?
Two types of individuals
1. Physical differences
2. physiological differences
For example when we think about their physical appearance, we
often ask ourselves why some people have dark or fair
complexion, why some people are tall and some are short, why
some are thin and why some are very fat.
When we think about their psychological characteristics we often
come across people who are very talkative or less talkative, some
laugh too much whereas others take much time even to smile,
and some are very friendly whereas some prefer to be alone.

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Effects of Individual Difference on learning
There are three factors of individual differences which effects on
learning
1. Socioeconomic Status
2. Thinking/Learning Style
3. Exceptionalities
Socioeconomic Status:
The position of an individual on a social
economic scale that measures such factors as
education, income, type of occupation, place of residence, and
in some populations, heritage and religion.
The millionaires’ lifestyle differs from that of the middle income or
lower income group. So that the source of high Income and Lower
income more effects on learning.

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Thinking/learning style
Some of you learn better by seeing something; others by just
listening; and still others by manipulating something.
There I describe 3 steps of learning
1. Visual Learning
2. Auditory Learning
3. Kinesthetic Learning

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Exceptionalities
In class there maybe one who has difficulty in spoken language
comprehension or in seeing, hearing, etc. These problems also
effects on our learning.

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Differences in learning and thinking style
What is a LEARNING STYLE?
A learning style is that how you receive information best.
There are many learning styles but I want to describe three
learning styles.
AUDITORY LEARNING: Auditory Learners receive information
best through lectures and audio-based instruction.
VISUAL LEARNING: Visual Learners receive information best
when visual aids are used (slides, films, whiteboards, etc.). They
would rather read to learn than listen to learn.
TACTILE LEARNING: Tactile & Kinesthetic Learners receive
information best when they are allowed to use their hands and
sense of touch to learn new information and apply new skills.
What is a THINKING STYLE?
A thinking style is how you process information best.
LINEAR THINKER (Left-Brain Dominant): Linear Thinkers (or
"sequential thinkers") prefer a structured approach when
processing information. If instructions use a sequenced format

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(i.e. Step A, Step B, Step C, etc.) strong linear thinkers will feel
more comfortable starting "Step B" only after "Step A" has been
completed. Overall, linear thinkers like predictability and
consistency. Mathematics & Accounting are linear-oriented
subjects.
GLOBAL THINKER (Right-Brain Dominant) : Global Thinkers (or
"strategic thinkers") are more comfortable with new information if
they can put it into context with the big picture. They also tend to
be impatient with linear subjects and step-by-step instructions -
they prefer access to all the information (early on) so they can
relate it to their overall goals. Philosophy & Literature are global-
oriented subjects.
Of course, it would be difficult for a person to use only one
learning style - or be strictly a linear or global thinker - and still be
able to function adequately in our complex world. Even if you
have a dominant style, at some point you will need to incorporate
a variety of learning and thinking styles to complete certain
tasks. For example, when shopping for an expensive item you
need to use linear skills to calculate the item’s cost relative to your
personal budget, and you need global skills to determine the
benefits the item will provide now and in the future.

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Some learn more easily and are able to make use of their learning
more comfortably than others.
For some, one method of learning or memorization is more
suitable, while for others, a different method suits.
Parents and teachers are able to perceive children and their
natural tendencies of how they think, act and learn in different
ways and in different situations.
 For example, one child may welcome structure in learning
while another may welcome new ways of doing things. One
child may perform tasks in an orderly and systematic pattern
and another may perform tasks in an unsystematic pattern.
This is due to individual differences in their style of learning
and thinking.

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Conclusion
That no two individuals are exact duplicates they differ from each
other in some way or the other.
There are three factors of individual differences which effects on
learning Socioeconomic Status, Thinking/Learning Style,
Exceptionalities.
Learning: A learning style is that how you receive information
best.
Thinking: A thinking style is how you process information best.

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Reference:
1. https://targetlearning.net/learningstyles.html
2. http://www.slideshare.net/redmivc/module-4-individual-
differences
3. http://wilderdom.com/personality/L1-1Introduction.html
4. http://www.nos.org/media/documents/secpsycour/Englis
h/Chapter-3.pdf
5. http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/accessability/staff/including
-students-with-asperger-syndrome/theoretical-
perspectives/the-triad-2/thinking-and-learning-style