What is it about?
Many people believe that tailoring instruction to a person’s learning style leads to more successful learning. However, this is a very popular educational myth. Educational myths are widespread assumptions about educational topics that contradict current research. Such false or questionable beliefs are often very stable and cannot be easily changed by providing scientific knowledge. This is especially problematic when questionable beliefs, for example among (preservice) teachers are the basis of decisions and professional action in education. Such misconceptions can also have consequences in everyday life – for example, when parents seek information about educational topics such as the effectiveness of class repetition, or when social and political decisions are made based on such assumptions.
The goal of our research is to understand and refute educational myths. Therefore, we address the questions of how to measure questionable beliefs about educational issues, which individual characteristics predict them, and which intervention strategies are effective for conceptual change.