Honey & Mumford’s Learning Styles Questionnaire is a self-assessment tool designed to help you identify your preferred way of learning. Based on work by Peter Honey and Alan Mumford (who adapted David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle), it classifies learners into four distinct styles:
• Activist - Thrive on new experiences, enjoy “hands-on” challenges and spontaneous activities, and learn best by diving in and doing.
• Reflector - Prefer to stand back and observe, collect data carefully, review past experiences, and learn by thoughtful consideration.
• Theorist - Value logic and structure, seek to understand underlying principles, and learn best from models, theories and systematic analysis.
• Pragmatist - Look for practical applications, enjoy trying out ideas in real-world situations, and learn by testing things to see if they work.

How the Questionnaire Works
1. Forty statements—ten per style—each rated on a 1–5 scale (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree).
2. Scoring—you sum your ratings for each style, yielding four totals.
3. Interpretation—higher scores indicate your dominant learning preferences. No style is “better”; knowing yours can help you tailor study tactics, team roles, or training methods to suit how you naturally process information.

Use your results to:
• Structure learning activities (e.g., group simulations for Activists, case studies for Pragmatists).
• Choose study strategies (e.g., reflective journals for Reflectors, concept maps for Theorists).
• Communicate in mixed groups by recognising and balancing different style needs.

It’s quick, insightful, and a great first step in understanding and optimising how you learn.

It is free and for your own private use - the results are not visible to anyone but you. If you want to know more about your results and our courses you are welcome to contact us - +44 (0)20 7088 8164 or info@adastra-hp.com

Here are some practical “next steps” once you’ve completed the Honey & Mumford questionnaire and seen your style scores:

1. Interpret Your Scores
• Identify your top style(s): The style with the highest total is your dominant preference. If two styles tie or are close, you have a dual preference.
• Spot your low scores: These are your “learning weak spots”—areas you may avoid.

Why it matters: Knowing both your strengths and blind spots helps you choose activities that energise you, and also stretch you into less-comfortable but valuable learning modes.

2. Tailor Your Learning Activities
Use your dominant style to choose or design learning experiences you’ll enjoy and benefit from most:

Style Recommended Activities
Activist Simulations, role-plays, hands-on labs, brainstorming sessions
Reflector Journaling, observation tasks, case-study reviews, feedback sessions
Theorist Concept mapping, lectures with Q&A, reading research papers, model-building
Pragmatist Real-world problem sets, pilot projects, workshops, on-the-job trials

Tip: Even if you’re strongest in one style, occasionally pick an activity from a weaker style to build your adaptability.

3. Create a Personal Development Plan
1. Set a goal for each of your less-preferred styles (e.g., “I will keep a learning journal once a week to develop my Reflector side”).
2. Schedule regular practice—block out time in your calendar to try an activity from that style.
3. Reflect on progress—after each session, note what felt natural and what felt challenging.

4. Optimise Group Work & Team Learning
• Balance the mix: If you’re an Activist working with a Theorist, pair hands-on tasks with a clear conceptual framework up front.
• Assign roles by style: Let Reflectors handle post-project analysis, Pragmatists run pilot tests, Theorists develop the plan, and Activists drive the execution.

5. Leverage Additional Resources
• Books & articles:
• The Learning Power of Self-Reflection by Jennifer Moon
• Learning Styles and Pedagogy by Frank Coffield et al.
• Online tools: Try interactive simulations or virtual labs (great for Activists and Pragmatists).
• Workshops & courses: Look for programs that explicitly blend multiple modes (discussion + theory + practice + feedback).

6. Re-Assess Periodically
People’s preferences can shift over time or by context.
• Re-take the questionnaire every 6–12 months, or whenever you tackle a major new project.
• Compare scores to see how your learning profile evolves.

Putting It All Together
Your Honey & Mumford profile isn’t a box—it’s a springboard. Use it to build a richer, more effective learning toolkit: lean into what feels energising, shore up weaker areas deliberately, and craft experiences that engage your whole learning spectrum.