Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cornell Critical Thinking Test'

Epistemological development and its relationship to critical thinking has been postulated in educational psychology since the 1970’s. By empirically examining epistemological development in relationship to thinking critically, a richer understanding of overall student development and instructional needs could be achieved. By taking into account a student’s epistemological development, issues unique to these stages could inform how to most effectively work with students to promote critical thinking development. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential relationship between collegiate epistemological development and critical thinking skills by examining differences in critical thinking skills at different levels of epistemological development. The hypothesis of the study was that students reporting an epistemological level of either Absolutist or Evaluativist would have higher critical thinking scores than students reporting a Multiplist level. The instruments employed were the Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) and the Kuhn epistemological instrument. The study population of 157 students was taken from a medium-sized private institution in the southeastern United States. The data indicated that the majority of the study population, 87%, identified as the Multiplist level of epistemological development, according to Kuhn’s definitions. Overall critical thinking scores for the sample was lower than expected but still within reported ranges. Analysis of variance tests were performed on the data and failed to indicate a statistically significant relationship in overall epistemological developmental level and four of the five individual epistemological judgement domains. This finding was not anticipated, challenges current theoretical understanding of this relationship, and indicates a need for further investigation of the nature of the relationship between critical thinking and epistemological development in the higher educational setting.

In 1997, NLNAC added critical thinking as a required outcome for accreditation of associate degree nursing (ADN) programs. Until recently general critical thinking tests were the only available standardized critical thinking assessment tools. The emphasis has shifted to discipline specific tools. This concurrent validity study explored the correlation between two critical thinking tests, a general skills test, the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and a discipline specific test, the Arnett Critical Thinking Outcome Evaluation (CTOE). Both tests are based on the same definition of critical thinking. The CCTST, developed in 1990, covers discipline neutral content in multiple choice items. The CTOE, a free entry, written response test developed in 1998, assesses critical thinking in nursing situations using a partial credit model. A convenience sample of 434 sophomore ADN students from 9 programs in Texas completed the demographic survey and critical thinking tests in 1999. The sample was 87.9% female and 74.2% Caucasian, with a mean age of 31, mean GPA of 3.13, mean 3.7 years healthcare employment experience, mean CCTST score of 15.0023 and mean CTOE of 82.69. The sample also included 22.4% current LVNs, 15.7% with prior degrees and 53.5% in the first generation of their family to go to college. With Pearson correlation, three of four hypotheses concerning correlation between CCTST and CTOE scores were accepted, showing weak but significant correlation. GPA positively correlated but healthcare employment experience, first generation and minority status negatively correlated with CCTST scores. GPA correlated positively with CTOE scores. Stepwise multiple linear regression with CCTST scores retained GPA, healthcare employment experience, prior degree, and first generation in college status. The significant, positive correlation between CCTST and CTOE scores was weaker than expected. This may be due to the different formats of the tools, or a fundamental difference between a general critical thinking skills test and a discipline specific tool. Critical thinking is highly contextually sensitive and disciplines emphasize skills differently. Both tests may be useful in a critical thinking assessment program since they measure different aspects and contribute to a composite picture of critical thinking. Research should continue on discipline specific tools.

High attrition rates and a nursing shortage across the nation have led schools of nursing to seek out ways to better identify which applicants will be most successful in graduating from the nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Nursing programs have historically included standardized entrance exam scores and prerequisite scores among their admission criteria but have not used standardized critical thinking assessments (CTA), even though critical thinking is an integral part of being a successful nursing professional. Using Astin's input-environment-output (I-E-O) model, the purpose of this retrospective correlational study was to determine whether a significant relationship exists between prerequisite grade point average (GPA), Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) composite scores, entrance and exit CTA scores, and nursing GPA and the outcome of interest, passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Archival data for 64 students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a Texas university were analyzed using binary logistic regression. A significant positive relationship was found between prerequisite GPA, TEAS composite scores, entrance and exit CTA scores, and nursing GPA, and the outcome of interest, passing the NCLEX-RN exam. However, in looking at each independent variable separately, no significant relationship was revealed between the individual scores of the prerequisite GPA, TEAS composite, entrance and exit critical thinking assessment, nursing GPA, and the outcome of passing the NCLEX-RN exam on the first attempt. These findings have implications for positive social change by illuminating the complexities of nursing program retention and graduation and informing efforts to train the most talented nurses.

Critical thinking skills have become an important part of current educational practices. However, there is little empirical evidence comparing the effectiveness of the programs teaching these skills. In addition, there are questions as to whether the skills should be taught within the class content or separate from the class content. This study assigned students attending labs as part of an educational psychology class to two experimental conditions (content-based and content-free) and a control condition. Measures were scores on lab papers and test scores for the class. In addition, an attitude survey was used to assess student attitudes to each condition, and the overall quality of the labs was assessed. An analysis of variance was performed on the data. Results indicated little difference between experimental and control conditions.

For a number of years the educational community has recognized the importance of teaching critical thinking skills to all students; however, a shift in educational pedagogy and philosophy has occurred. Through recent legislation the funding of educational institutions that demonstrate competencies and gains from standardized test scores has been mandated. Although performance measurement regarding the effectiveness of learning environments is useful, students must learn critical thinking skills to compete globally, problem solve effectively, self-actualize, preserve democracy, and promote human rights. The relationship between content and critical thinking presents a unique challenge in American education. This study examined the shift in focus from critical thinking to standards-based assessment in American education and focused on data garnered and analyzed from The California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST). The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in the 5 dimensions of critical thinking based on colleges and gender based upon 1,455 graduating seniors for the 2009-2010 academic year on the (CCTST). This study used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze data. In this quantitative study, data from the (CCTST) were gathered and distributed to the researcher for compilation and statistical analysis. Findings from this study indicate that gender and major college of study significantly influence the means on the dimensions of the CCTST. This study provides information regarding critical thinking skills in a higher education setting and is useful for higher education practitioners in facilitating the development of critical thinking skills. The results of this study add to the body of knowledge regarding critical thinking.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 199 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-129). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

This study researched the nature of tasks used in Grade 10 mathematics tests and end-of-year national examinations. The study was carried out in three, purposively selected, Grade 10 schools in the Ohangwena region in Northern Namibia. For the purpose of this study, a mixed method approach was employed to analyse a combination of both quantitative and qualitative data. A sample of three tests per mathematics teacher from the three participating schools and national examinations question papers for the past three consecutive years (2011-2013) were analysed using Stein, Smith, Henningsen, & Silver’s (2000) framework of cognitive demand. The study was divided into two phases. Phase 1 was the analysis of teacher test items and national examination items in terms of their cognitive demand. Phase 2 involved semi-structured interviews with three selected teachers to probe their views and find out their basis for selecting test items. The findings of this study revealed that there was no substantial difference in the distribution of the levels of cognitive demand in both tests and national examinations items. The study, however, showed that mainly tasks requiring only procedures without connections dominated the tests and the examinations. The number of higher level tasks in both tests and examinations analysed was low. There was no single task coded at level 4 in any of the teachers’ tests. Only 2% of tasks could be classified at level 4 in the examination items. The study also revealed that since tests and examinations assess the same learning objectives from the syllabus, most of the test items set by teachers were extracted from the national examinations question papers. The paper recommends that more tasks at a higher level category need to be included in assessment tasks to promote critical thinking amongst learners.

It is imperative to prepare South African learners to participate and function confidently within the context of a rapidly changing world. The curriculum of the South African Education System emphasises the significance of optimising learners‟ cognitive development as early as pre-school age to enable them to become creative and critical citizens who lead purposeful lives in a safe and prejudice-free environment. Despite continuous efforts by educators to optimise cognitive development, recently executed research studies indicate that cognitive development has not been adequately optimised in South African schools. This study was undertaken to establish the cognitive development level (cognitive and meta-cognitive skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors) of Grade R-learners and to determine the effect of an intervention programme, the Cognitive Enhancement Programme for Pre-schoolers (CEPP), on their cognitive development. By means of a literature study, I investigated whether, to what extent the cognitive development of Grade R-learners was taking place, and established which cognitive and meta-cognitive thinking skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors are required for effective cognitive development among Grade R-learners. In addition to this, the role of mediation for optimising cognitive development was investigated. A concurrent embedded mixed methods design was conducted in the implementation of the research. Intervention research within a quasi-experimental research design was applied. The data collection by means of a quantitative strategy (quasi-experimental research) and qualitative strategy (observation study) was executed simultaneously. By means of convenient sampling, one Grade R-class with twenty learners was subjected to a pre-test to establish their cognitive developmental level. The test results as well as the observations conducted during the pre-test revealed that the learners experienced problems related to their cognitive development. Ten of the twenty learners were then divided purposively based on their test performance into two experimental groups, Experimental Group A and Experimental Group B consisting of five participants each. Experimental group A and Experimental Group B took part in the CEPP intervention based on the principles of mediation on a rotational basis over a period of twelve weeks, during which intentional attempts were made to optimise their cognitive development. Both groups completed a post-test and delayed post-test (retention) to determine the effect of the CEPP intervention on their cognitive development. In addition to the test results, observations in the form of structured running and anecdotal records and reflective notes were utilised to understand the nature and quality of the cognitive development of the learners better. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention on their cognitive development was established. The cognitive development of Grade R-learners who participated in this study was optimised, which is a clear indication that cognitive capacity can be optimised when instruction is based on the principles of mediation
PhD, Teaching and Learning, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

Dans le champ du raisonnement, les théories du double processus sont largement reconnues comme expliquant différents phénomènes, tels que les biais décisionnels et le raisonnement moral ou coopératif. Ces théories conçoivent le mode de pensée de l'homme comme une interaction entre un système rapide, automatique et intuitif (Système 1) et un système plus lent et contrôlé (Système 2). Le point de vue dominant sur les double processus et le modèle default-interventionist qui suppose l'existence d'une interaction sérielle entre ces systèmes. Ainsi, quand quelqu'un est affronté à un problème de raisonnement, la réponse de Système 1 se forme initialement. Puis, le Système 2 peut être impliqué dans le processus. Les théories du double processus dominantes postulent que les biais de raisonnement sont le résultat d'une réponse intuitive erronée du Système 1. Selon ces théories le Système 1 est capable de générer des réponses basées sur les indices « heuristiques », tels que les stéréotypes - mais il ne peut pas rendre compte des principes logico-mathématiques. Malgré la grande reconnaissante qu'elle a reçu, cette théorie contient une présomption jamais testée, notamment la présomption « corrective ». Celle-ci postule que dans les situations où les indices heuristiques sont en conflit avec les principes logico-mathématiques, le Système 2 devient obligatoirement impliqué afin de corriger la réponse erronée de Système 1 et ainsi arrive à une réponse utilisant les principes logiques. Il semble donc crucial de tester cette présomption, qui est la question centrale de cette thèse. Dans l’Étude 1, j'ai utilisé des versions modifiées du paradigme de deux réponses afin de tester la présomption corrective utilisant deux problèmes classiques du raisonnement (problèmes de taux de base et de raisonnement syllogistique). Dans ce paradigme, les participants résolvent la même tâche deux fois. D'abord, ils doivent donner une réponse très rapidement. Après, ils font face à la même tâche sans contrainte temporelle. Afin de vérifier que la première réponse est intuitive, on a employé quatre méthodes : des instructions, une charge concomitante, un temps limite de réponse, ainsi que la charge concomitante et le temps limite simultanément. La théorie du double processus prédit que les réponses logiquement correctes n'apparaissent que dans l'étape finale. A contrario, j'ai trouvé que la plupart des participants ayant donné la bonne réponse à l'étape finale l'avaient déjà donnée lors de la phase initiale. Cet effet était présent dans toutes les procédures expérimentales et dans les 2 problèmes de raisonnement. Dans l’Étude 2, j'ai testé la même présomption avec un problème de raisonnement plus difficile, le problème de la « batte-et-balle ». J'ai conduit 7 expériences avec le paradigme de deux réponses et j'ai trouvé que les personnes ayant donné la réponse correcte à la fin l'ont déjà générée lors de la réponse initiale - donc, il semblerait que les participants l'ont fait intuitivement. Ces résultats m'ont amené à réviser le cadre default-interventionist et à proposer une théorie du double processus hybride qui suppose que le Système 1 génère deux différentes réponses intuitives dont une basée sur les principes logico-mathématiques. Ces réponses possèdent une force équivoque au début - celle qui gagnera plus en force sera donnée comme la réponse initiale. J'ai testé les prédictions dérivées de ce modèle via l’Étude 3. Grâce l’Étude 4, j'ai mis au point le modèle hybride en testant les changements de force des réponses intuitives au cours du temps. Au cours de l’Étude 5, j'ai commencé à tester la possibilité de généraliser ce modèle hybride et j'ai étudié si les patterns de réponse étaient similaires lorsque les participants répondent à des dilemmes moraux. Dans l’Étude 6, j'ai utilisé l'EEG afin de retrouver les corrélats neuronaux du traitement logique précoce au cours du raisonnement
Dual-process theories of reasoning have become widely recognized as an explanation for various phenomena, such as thinking biases, moral or cooperative reasoning. Dual-process theory conceives human thinking as the interaction of a fast, more automatic, intuitive system (System 1) and a slower, controlled, more deliberative one (System 2). Arguably, the most dominant view on dual processes is the default-interventionist model. This posits a serial interaction between the two systems. When someone is faced with a reasoning problem, initially a System 1 intuitive response is formed. Then, afterwards, System 2 might get engaged in the process. Prominent dual-process theorists argue that reasoning bias occurs as a result of erroneous System 1 intuition. System 1 is thought to be able to generate responses based on "heuristic" cues, such as stereotypes - and cannot account for logico-mathematical principles. Despite its huge recognition, this theory comes with an untested assumption: the corrective (time-course) assumption. This posits that in cases when heuristic cues are in conflict with logico-mathematical principles, System 2 needs to engage in order to correct initially formed System 1 intuitions, and form a judgement based on logical principles. Testing this assumption is inevitably important and the central question of this thesis. In Study 1, I used four modified versions of the two-response paradigm to test the corrective assumption with two different classical reasoning problems (base rate problems, syllogistic reasoning). In this paradigm, people are presented with the same problem twice. First, they are asked to give an initial, very quick response. After, they are presented with the same problem again and asked to give a final response without any constraints. To make sure that the initial response is really intuitive, we applied four different procedures: instructions, concurrent load, response deadline and load plus deadline. Dual process theory predicts that logically correct responses appear only at the final response stage. Surprisingly, I found that the majority of people who gave the logically correct response in the final response stage already gave it form the beginning. This effect was found to be consistent among all experimental procedures and both reasoning problems. In Study 2, I tried to test the same assumption, with a different -harder- reasoning problem, the bat-and-ball problem. Interestingly, I ran 7 experiments with the two-response paradigm and consistently found that correct reasoners are often able to generate the correct response from the beginning, so-to-say, intuitively. These results forced me to revise the default-interventionist framework and propose the hybrid dual process model. This model now argues that System 1 generates two kinds of intuitive responses one of which is based on mathematico-logical principles. These responses are generated with unequal strength - the one which gains the more strength will be given as the initial response. In Study 3, I directly tested predictions derived from this model. In Study 4, I further developed the hybrid model by testing the changes in the strength of intuitive responses over time. In Study 5, I started to test the hybrid model's domain generality, and test if I find similar patterns of responses when people are faced with moral dilemmas. In Study 6, I used EEG to search for the neural correlates of early logical processing in reasoning. Overall, this thesis found evidence that forces us to revise the traditional dual process view on human reasoning

碩士
國立臺南大學
測驗統計研究所
95
The purpose of the study was to investigate the recent status of the 6th grade students’ democratic-legal critical thinking skills and critical thinking dispositions, the factors affecting students’ performance on Democratic –Legal Critical Thinking Skills Test (DLCTST) and Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale, and the relationships between DLCTST and Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale. To achieve the purpose of the study, DLCTST and Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale were used in this study. The sample of the study was composed of 1350 students of the 6th grade, which was analyzed through statistic methods, including CTT item analysis, IRT item analysis, ANOVA, regression analysis, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and Canonical Correlation. The main results of the study were as follows. 1. As far as the parameters of DLCTST were concerned, the mean p, D, and pb were .40, .40, and .41, respectively. The mean a, b, and c were .76, -.02, and .20, respectively. 2. Two difficulty levels of item paramaters were developed for DLCTST to describe students’ levels of performances, and 22.89%, 54.22%, and 22.89% students were categorized as level I, level II, and level III, respectively. 3. Students’ performance on DLCTST showed significant differences in different areas, school sizes, genders, ethic groups, SES, use of multimedia experiences, staff experiences, and classroom climate. In comparison with other variables, staff experiences, time of reading newspapers and watching news on TV every day, and ethic groups were more significantly important predictors of students’ performance on DLCTST. 4. Students’ performance on Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale showed significant differences in different areas, school sizes, genders, ethic groups, SES, use of multimedia experiences, staff experiences, and classroom climate. In comparison with other variables, classroom discussion, time of reading newspapers and watching news on TV every day, and the number of books were more significantly important predictors of students’ performance on Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale. 5. Generally, Students’ performance on DLCTST was correlated positively with that on Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale. For every subtest and subscale, students’ performance on every subtest of DLCTST was correlated positively with that on every subscale of Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale.

碩士
國立臺南大學
測驗統計研究所
95
The purpose of the study was to investigate the recent status of the 8th grade students’ historical critical thinking skills, the factors affecting students’ performance on Historical Critical Thinking Skills Test(HCTST). To achieve the purpose of the study, Historical Critical Thinking Skills Test were used in this study. The sample of the study was composed of 1043 students of the 8th grade, which was analyzed through statistic methods, including CTT item analysis, IRT item analysis, and ANOVA. The main results of the study were as follows. 1. As far as the parameters of HCTST were concerned, the mean P, D, and pb were .50, .54, and .52, respectively. The mean a, b, and c were .92, .30, and .22, respectively. 2. Two difficulty levels of item paramaters were developed for HCTST to describe students’ levels of performances, and 32.63%, 44.87%, and 18.50% students were categorized as level I, level II, and level III, respectively. 3. Students’ performance on HCTST showed significant differences in different areas, genders, ethic groups, SES.

A primary goal of education is not only to inform but to transform learners. As instructors shift their focus from a one-size-fits-all emphasis on content delivery to a flexible, student-centered approach, questions of student engagement and student motivation become key. In many educational settings, instructors are faced with a classroom of students with varying, and often unknown, levels of motivation, ability, and commitment. Effectively addressing the educational needs of such a range of students often requires significant changes to traditional pedagogy. A recent pedagogical design that has been facilitated by the advent of easily accessible and low-cost multimedia technology is the “flipped classroom,” a course structure that asks students to view lectures prior to class and replaces the traditional in-class lecture with collaborative, problem-based instruction. The aim of the present study was to explore the experience of introducing a flipped curriculum into a LSAT (the nationally used entrance exam for admission to law school) preparation classroom. The study used a design research approach to investigate two iterations of the flipped curriculum across three courses. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to describe the experience of a flipped curriculum for both the instructor and the students. When compared to a traditional curriculum, results showed no significant effect on overall test score improvement, but students in the flipped courses did show greater improvement than those in a traditional course on one of the three LSAT section subscores. The results also showed that students in flipped courses had marginally lower overall attendance, greater classroom community, high levels of engagement, and moderately high belief in group effectiveness.
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碩士
國立臺南大學
測驗統計研究所碩士班
100
The study, on the one hand, studied the performance of the critical thinking ability on History issue of the elementary school students studying at Grade 5~6 after they had involved in the learning of Grade 1-9 Curriculum, and on the other, explored the difference in the performance of “critical thinking test on History issue” taken by the elementary school students with different background. In order to achieve the above objectives, the researcher designed a “critical thinking test on History issue” as the research tool, and selected the elementary school students studying at Grade 5~6 as the research targets. There were 821 students taking the test, and thus 821 effective samples received. According to the students’ answers of the test, the study employs classical theoretical item analysis, IRT item analysis, ANOVA and product-moment correlation to carry out data processing analysis. The main findings of the study are as follows: 1. The correct answering rate (P) of “critical thinking test on History issue” designed by the researcher is .74; the average discrimination (D) is 0.43; the average point-biserial correlation (pb) is 0.43; the average discrimination (a) is 1.24; the average difficulty (b) is -0.35; and the average conjecture degree (c) is 0.38. 2. The difficulty value -0.35 of the test questions designed in the study is the truncation point. The test questions are divided into two levels of difficulty. 3. For the students of different grades and ethnic groups, with parents having different occupations, education standards and disciplining ways on children, with different financial aid and number of extracurricular books read weekly, and with teachers taking different teaching ways, there is significant difference in the students’ performance of “critical thinking test on History issue.”

The theoretical part of the diploma thesis summarizes basic facts related to the global climate change and provides up-to-date knowledge on the issue of genetically modified plants more resistant to stress factors of environment, including specific examples of strategies regarding preparation of genetically modified plants resistant particularly to abiotic stress. Although genetically modified plants and global climate changes belong to very important and current issue which public and foremost young generation should be sufficiently aware of, contemporary biology books and high school framework educational program pay to the issue very little attention. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is not only to summarize the basic facts and current knowledge regarding this issue but mainly to handle the issue in didactic level in the form of activating learning tasks. There were 28 learning tasks created in the thesis that gradually in unconventional way familiarize students with the issue of genetically modified plants and with the impacts of climate changes. Students must actively acquire information from accompanying materials to address the tasks properly, think critically over them, utilizing acquired knowledge and experience from the past to some extent. Fourteen tasks were chosen from the file created which...

The number of students that apply for studies at South African universities has increased dramatically over the past years, but the resources of the universities have stayed the same. It is therefore imperative that academic performance can be predicted on a short- and long-term basis. The Developing Expertise model might be able to predict academic performance on a short- and long-term basis. This study focussed primarily on academic performance on short-term basis by focussing on three of the model’s elements. The three elements that were investigated were: metacognition, intrinsic motivation and critical thinking. One of the contributions of this study is the refinement of some of the elements of the expertise model. The study helped to determine the validity of the instrument in a South African context. The measurement instrument can also be used as a selection meganism on short-term basis. In order to measure each of the elements of the expertise model, a measuring tool consisting of five questionnaires was compiled. A convenience sample of first year psychology students provided 326 students for the study. A second sample, compiled from the original sample, consisting of 209 first year students was used for the multiple regression analyses. These students are registered for psychology for the first time in 2005. The students were placed in three groups according to the student’s means of registering for the CBT centre. The first group was those students who completed the instrument on computers. The second group consisted of those students who completed a paper and pencil version of the measurement. The third group consisted of the Mamelodi students. These students completed a paper and pencil version of the measurement and brought it back a week later. The statistical analysis included factor analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Based on the literature research and the results of the statistical analysis, the expertise model was expanded to include metamemory as the functional unit for metacognition. Motivation can be divided in three subcomponents, namely: self-efficacy, intrinsic value and test anxiety. The motivational component, knowledge of cognition and external control can be used as predictors of academic performance on a short-term basis. The findings of this study can only be used as a selection meganism of academic performance on a short-term basis and therefore the results must be used with caution.
Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Psychology
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