History and Biographies Biography of Psychologist David Kolb By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial process Kendra Cherry Fact checked by Fact checked by Emily Swaim on March 12, 2020 linkedin Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology content. Learn about our editorial process Emily Swaim Updated on March 12, 2020 Print scyther5 / Getty Images David Kolb is a psychologist and educational theorist who is perhaps best known for his theory of experiential learning. In addition to developing a theory that outlined how experiential learning takes place, Kolb is also known for his learning style inventory that remains quite popular among educators today. His main contributions to the field of psychology include: Experiential learning theoryKolb's learning stylesKolb's learning style inventory Brief Biography of David Kolb David Kolb was born in 1939. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1961 from Knox College. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in social psychology from Harvard University. Today, he is Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behavior in the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Career Kolb is an American psychologist and educational theorist. He is perhaps best known for his research on experiential learning and learning styles. According to Kolb, experiential learning is a process by which knowledge results from different combinations of grasping and transforming experiences. We can grasp experience two different ways; through concrete experience and abstract conceptualization. People can then transform experience in two ways; through reflective observation or active experimentation. This process is often portrayed as a cycle. Kolb's theory of experiential learning also serves as the basis for his four learning styles. Each of the four learning styles is characterized by strengths in two of the four major steps of the learning cycle. People with a converging learning style prefer to learning through abstract conceptualization and active experimentation.Those with a diverging learning style prefer concrete experience and reflective observation.The assimilating style is associated with abstract conceptualization and reflective observation.The accommodating learning style is linked to concrete experience and active experimentation. While learning styles remain a fairly controversial and oft-debated area within psychology and education, Kolb's theory has emerged as one of the most popular and widely used. Selected Publications Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2011). Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0 Boston MA: Hay Group.Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2010). Learning to Play, Playing to Learn: A Case Study of a Ludic Learning Space (1 ed., vol. 23, pp. 26-50). Journal of Organizational Change Management.Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2009). In Armstrong, S. J. & Fukami, C. (Ed.), Experiential Learning Theory: A Dynamic, Holistic Approach to Management Learning, Education and Development (pp. 50). London: Sage Publications Handbook of Management Learning, Education and Development.Kolb, D. A., Boyatzis, R. E., & Mainemelis, C. (2000). Experiential Learning Theory: Previous Research and New Directions. Perspectives on Cognitive, Learning, and Thinking Styles. Sternberg & Zhang (Eds.). NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0. Boston: Hay Group; 2011. Additional Reading INFED. David A. Kolb on experiential learning. Updated June 20, 2013. Weatherhead School of Management. David Kolb, PhD.