Thinking styles of university students: multivariate characterization based on HJ-Biplot Cluster

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55777/rea.v18i36.6002

Keywords:

Thinking Styles, Multivariate Analysis, HJ-Biplot, Gender Differences, Area of Knowledge

Abstract

Thinking styles can be defined as the manner in which an individual approaches particular situations. The main goal of this study was to analyze thinking styles as a function of gender and students' area of ​​knowledge. Secondly the factorial structure established by Theory of Thinking Styles was corroborated. The research was developed under a quantitative methodology. The Thinking Styles Inventory (TSI) questionnaire was applied to a sample of 340 university students (170 males, 170 females). The methodology employed encompassed factor analysis and multivariate analysis with HJ-Biplot and HJ-Biplot Cluster, facilitating graphical representation off the composition of the student groups according to the predominant styles. The results indicate a clear differentiation between gender, thinking styles and area of ​​knowledge, allowing the identification and creation of student profiles and the provision of information for the elaboration of teaching strategies, learning, personal and human development in the academic programs implemented by the universities.

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Author Biographies

Ana Belén Sánchez-García, Universidad de Salamanca, España

She holds a PhD in Education and has conducted research at universities in the United States, including as a Fulbright researcher in autism. She is currently a tenured professor in the Department of Didactics, Organisation and Research Methods at the University of Salamanca. Author of more than 100 publications (articles, conference papers and technical documents), she has given lectures and courses in the United States, Europe and South America, as well as at various Spanish universities and institutions. A member of the Centre for Research on Human Rights and Public Policy (CIDH-Diversitas), she collaborates with other renowned research groups such as ‘Diversitas’ and ‘Disability Research’ and the Department of Statistics at the University of Salamanca. She is currently the director of the Social Affairs Service at the University of Salamanca and has held other management positions, including advisor to the vice-chancellor and director of a university master's programme, among others.

Victoria Irandy Ballesteros-Espinoza, Universidad de Salamanca, España

PhD in Applied Multivariate Statistics from the University of Salamanca, Master's Degree in Advanced Multivariate Data Analysis from the University of Salamanca. Researcher at the Centre for Research in Applied Multivariate Statistics (CIEMA) at the University of Colima. Collaboration in more than 25 research projects for the University of Colima, as well as local, national, and federal projects. He also has professional experience within the Ministry of Social Development of the federal government of the Mexican Republic, in the Department of Social Communication, Citizenship, Governing social projects of the federal INDESOL programme, and internal auditing of the quality management system under the ISO-9001 standard. Intern in the coordination of outreach at the University of Colima, as a marketing advisor in business projects developed by the University of Colima's business incubator under the EmpreSer model. He collaborates regularly as a postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Statistics at the University of Salamanca.

Purificación Vicente-Galindo, Universidad de Salamanca, España

Director of the Department of Statistics at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Director of the Master's Degree in Advanced Multivariate Data Analysis and Big Data and Coordinator of the Doctoral Programme in Multivariate Statistics. Doctorate in Applied Multivariate Statistics, with special honours, all from the University of Salamanca (USAL). Full Professor in the Department of Statistics at USAL. Faculty of Medicine. He has published more than 32 scientific articles, made more than 80 contributions to national and international conferences, coordinated 12 national and regional research projects, and completed seven research stays in Latin America and Europe. She has supervised more than ten doctoral theses, all of which received honours, one of which received an award for research excellence and another an extraordinary award.

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PORTADA_VOLUMEN 18, NÚMERO 36

Published

2025-10-22

How to Cite

Sánchez-García, A. B., Ballesteros-Espinoza, V. I., & Vicente-Galindo, P. (2025). Thinking styles of university students: multivariate characterization based on HJ-Biplot Cluster. Journal of Learning Styles, 18(36), 269–282. https://doi.org/10.55777/rea.v18i36.6002