Title: Cognitive styles and informal learning strategies in the workplace: the mediating role of intrinsic motivation

Authors: Sergio Santoro

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Av. Dias da Silva, 165, 3004-512, Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract: This study analyses the relationship between cognitive styles and managers' informal learning strategies. Intrinsic motivation is considered to be a mediating variable between these two constructs. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the relations in the research model. The hypotheses proposed in our research model were tested on a sample of 244 bank managers from all Brazilian regions. Results show that, from the three-dimensional model of cognitive styles, knowing cognitive style has a positive effect on both cognitive and behavioural learning strategies, whereas planning and creating cognitive styles have positive effects on behavioural learning strategies but they have non-significant effects on informal cognitive learning strategies. Intrinsic motivation mediates the relation between cognitive styles and informal learning strategies.

Keywords: psychological trait; cognitive styles; workplace informal learning strategies; intrinsic motivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2023.131187

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2023 Vol.33 No.4, pp.417 - 442

Received: 02 Feb 2022
Accepted: 10 Mar 2022
Published online: 01 Jun 2023 *

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