What term describes an individual's consistent way of gathering and processing information?

The term that describes an individual's consistent way of gathering and processing information is "learning style." This concept encompasses the various approaches that people utilize to absorb, process, and retain information. Learning styles can involve preferences for visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learning, among others, reflecting how individuals best engage with and comprehend new material.

Understanding a person's learning style is essential in educational and training contexts, as it allows instructors to tailor their strategies to better meet the needs of their students, thereby enhancing the overall learning experience. In contrast, the other terms listed—learning preference, teaching strategy, and instructional method—do not specifically capture the individual nature and consistency of how a person processes information. Rather, they pertain to broader aspects of education, such as choices made by the learner or strategies employed by the instructor.