critical thinking disposition scale pdf

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by Thomas F. Nelson Laird, Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research

Summer 2005

Highlights of the CCTDI:

• Straightforward 75-question survey; relatively inexpensive to administer; takes about 20 minutes to complete; questionnaire can be completed by paper and pencil or online.
• Survey addresses the "dispositional" dimension of critical thinking—as opposed to the "skills" dimension, which is evaluated in the Critical Thinking Skills Test ( CCTST ). Survey assesses how students feel they approach these seven qualities: truth-seeking, open-mindedness, analytical tendencies, systematic tendencies, critical thinking self-confidence, inquisitiveness, and cognitive maturity.

Uses of the CCTDI:

• As a one-time test to gain understanding of how students view themselves as critical thinkers. Students’ strengths toward critical thinking are noted and areas for improvement identified.  
• As a pre- and post-test of a particular curricular or co-curricular experience in order to study how a student’s attitude toward critical thinking develops in relation to that experience.  
• Can be combined with demographic surveys to examine the relationship between student attitudes toward critical thinking and student characteristics (such as socioeconomic status or major).

Jill Cellars Rogers Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts at Wabash College

Introduction

The ideal critical thinker is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded, flexible, fair-minded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking results that are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit.                                           – American Philosophical Association, The Delphi Report [1]

Experts from several fields agree that a critical thinker must possess both a set of thinking skills and the habits of mind necessary to use those skills. The California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory ( CCTDI ) is a survey instrument designed to measure whether a person habitually exhibits the mindset of an ideal critical thinker. (A companion survey, the California Critical Thinking Skills Test, measures actual critical thinking skills.) The CCTDI, a 75-item questionnaire designed by Peter and Noreen Facione, is available through Insight Assessment (formerly the California Academic Press). The survey is designed for use with students in postsecondary settings (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) and with adults outside of educational environments. The CCTDI is used for student assessment as well as program evaluation, professional development, and training.

The following review provides a summary of several aspects of the CCTDI, including how it is used, how much it costs, what it measures, how it can be used for the purposes of student assessment, and why someone would use it when assessing liberal arts education.  

Administration and Cost

The CCTDI must be ordered from Insight Assessment. It is a tool that can be used with groups of any size (a class, a department, or an entire campus). It is available in paper form or as a web-based survey. Either version takes 20 minutes or less to complete. A "specimen kit" containing a manual, a copy of the instrument, and a copy of the fill-in answer form is available for purchase ($60). For those seriously considering using the CCTDI, it is advisable to obtain the specimen kit prior to ordering the surveys and answer sheets. The manual describes the survey’s history and properties as well as procedures for its administration.

Paper Version

The paper version of test/tool booklets (six-page documents that contain directions and the 75 statements about which students will rate their level of agreement/disagreement) and answer forms (scannable forms on which students fill in bubbles corresponding to their responses) must be ordered. At this writing, answer forms can be ordered in bundles of 25 ($150), 50 ($275), or 100 ($485). Because the booklets are separate from the answer forms, they can be used more than once. For this reason, answer forms can also be ordered on their own in packets of 25 ($110), 50 ($190), and 100 ($335).

Booklets and answer forms are shipped to the purchaser, who determines to whom and how the CCTDI will be administered (e.g., in class, by mail, at orientation). A student filling out the paper form will receive a test/tool booklet and an answer form. Answer forms are then collected from the students and shipped back to Insight Assessment, where they are scanned and scored using a system called CapScore. Insight Assessment then sends the investigator a data file and a report summarizing the survey results.

Online Version

To use the online version, an order needs to be placed with Insight Assessment. The cost is $6 per student. The software application is made available to the administrator by Insight Assessment and needs to be set up on a computer or group of computers. (For specifics on the application or for a demo version contact Insight Assessment.) The software application administers the CCTDI and compiles students’ responses. The data and reporting of the results are available instantly. The system can also be set up to give each student a critical thinking "dispositions profile" immediately upon completion of the instrument. A computer lab is an ideal setting for administering the online version.

About the CCTDI

In 1990, with sponsorship from the American Philosophical Association, a group of scholars from several disciplines developed a definition of critical thinking that had a skills dimension and a dispositional (i.e., affective and attitudinal) dimension. Building on the scholars' definition regarding the habits of mind of an ideal critical thinker, Peter and Noreen Facione developed and tested the CCTDI as a measure of the dispositional side of critical thinking. In its final form, the CCTDI has 75 items. Each respondent can choose from six responses, ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Since 1990, the CCTDI have been developed in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese. The instrument uses seven sub-scales to capture different aspects of the disposition to think critically: truth-seeking, open-mindedness, critical thinking self-confidence, inquisitiveness, cognitive maturity, and the inclination to analyze and systematize. (For a brief definition of each, visit Insight Assessment.) Examples of survey items are listed below, under the corresponding sub-scale.

Example Items for Each CCTDI Sub-scale

The CCTDI total score is the sum of the scores for each of the seven sub-scales. The total score indicates whether a person is generally disposed to think critically—whether the individual habitually exhibits the characteristics of an ideal critical thinker. The total score ranges from 70 to 420. Students who score less than 210 are defined as negatively disposed toward critical thinking, students with scores between 210 and 280 are defined as ambivalently disposed, and students with scores above 280 are defined as positively disposed. [4,6]  The score range for each of the seven sub-scales is from 10–40, and students can be considered negatively (scores less than 30), ambivalently (scores between 30 and 40), or positively (scores greater than 40) disposed to each of the characteristics.

The CCTDI has been tested by its developers and by several independent researchers. [2, 4, 6, 7, 9] Among those who have examined the instrument, there is general agreement that the survey validly and reliably measures the disposition toward critical thinking and is therefore appropriate for inclusion in research and assessment. In contrast to some of the findings of the survey developers, several researchers have identified concerns about the appropriate number of sub-scales and some of the statistical properties of particular sub-scales. [2, 7, 9]  Further work is needed to review these concerns, though the issues raised do not appear to be serious, and using the seven sub-scales defined by the instrument’s authors still appears to be appropriate.

How the CCTDI Can Be Used in Assessment

The CCTDI can be used at a single point in time to gain an understanding of how students view themselves as critical thinkers. This information can be useful in determining whether individual students or groups of students have the dispositions deemed necessary for a class, at the end of a program, or for entry into a particular professional setting. For example, in the field of nursing, which has recommended CCTDI scores [3] , it may be useful to know a student's disposition toward critical thinking upon entry into a program or prior to his or her entry into a clinical setting. Scores can be used to identify strengths and areas for improvement. (A person's predisposition and motivation to think critically is interrelated with actual critical thinking ability; both work together to create a critical thinker. Therefore, institutions interested in assessing critical thinking characteristics of their students might choose to consider using both the CCTDI for attitude and the CCTST for ability.)

In addition, the instrument can be used to test how an experience or set of experiences influence students’ dispositions toward critical thinking. Positive changes in individual predisposition to critical thinking linked to curricular programs have been demonstrated. Students can be tested in their first year of college and again at the end of their senior year to determine how the entire collegiate experience affected their dispositions to think critically. [6] One can also test the effects of specific collegiate programs, courses, or experiences. For this purpose, it is important to measure carefully different student characteristics and differences in what students have done at college in addition to the experiences under study. In one of my own studies [8] , I looked at the effects of students’ experiences with diversity on several outcomes, including the disposition toward critical thinking, as measured by the CCTDI.

The CCTDI is useful because it is a relatively short survey that captures a meaningful concept (the disposition to think critically) with clear connections to valued educational outcomes. It is adaptable to different settings and can be administered to any size group. For these reasons, it can play a valuable role in the assessment of a liberal arts education. However, because it measures a single outcome, the CCTDI is most helpful when combined with information gathered from other instruments and methods. It is a valuable tool to keep in one’s assessment "toolkit."

References  

• American Philosophical Association. (1990). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction. The Delphi Report Executive Summary: Research findings and recommendations prepared for the committee on pre-college philosophy. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED315423)
• Bondy, K. N., Koenigseder, L. A., Ishee, J. H., & Williams, B. G. (2001). Psychometric properties of the California critical thinking tests. Journal of Nursing Measurement , 9, 309–328.
• Facione, N. C. & Facione, P. A. (1997). Critical thinking assessment in nursing education programs: An aggregate data analysis . Millbrae, CA: The California Academic Press.
• Facione, P. A., Facione, N. C., & Giancarlo, C. A. (1998). The California critical thinking disposition inventory test manual (Revised) . Millbrae, CA: The California Academic Press.
• Facione, P. A., Sánchez, C. A., Facione, N. C., & Gainen, J. (1995). The disposition toward critical thinking. The Journal of General Education, 44 , 1–25.
• Giancarlo, C. A. & Facione, P. A. (2001). A look across four years at the disposition toward critical thinking among undergraduate students. The Journal of General Education , 50 , 29–55.
• Kakai, H. (2003). Re-examining the factor structure of the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 96 , 435–438.
• Nelson Laird, T. F. (2005). College students’ experiences with diversity and their effects on academic self-confidence, social agency, and disposition toward critical thinking. Research in Higher Education, 46 , 365–387.
• Walsh, C. M. & Hardy, R. C. (1997). Factor structure stability of the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory across sex and various students’ majors. Perceptual & Motor Skills , 85 , 1211–1228.  
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A critical thinking disposition scale for nurses: short form

2010, Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Background The lack of clinical competence in nurses leads to problems in providing nursing services. Studies indicate that nurses lacking the required skills can endanger the public health in medical centers. Critical thinking is a factor that can affect nurses' clinical competence. Objectives The current study aimed at investigating the relationship between critical thinking and clinical competence in nurses. Methods The current descriptive-analytical and cross sectional study was conducted on 120 nurses selected by random sampling method. Data collection tools included the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI), as well as clinical competence and demographic information questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS using Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, and -test. Results Pearson correlation test showed a positive correlation between the total scores of critical thinking and clinical competence. Based on the results of the linear regression analysis, the tendency toward critical thinking could predict 28.4% of the clinical competence. The nurses mean CCTDI scores were at the positive level and their mean clinical competence scores were at the average level. Conclusions According to the obtained results, nursing authorities can organize practical workshops on the development of critical thinking of clinical nurses as one of the most important and operational strategies to improve nursing clinical competence and, ultimately, move towards optimal care.

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Critical thinking in nursing is an important aspect of their education and training but is often neglected. It is of critical importance in patient care and training programs need to provide a rich, robust introduction to it and continue to foster its development. This paper provides an overview of this relevant, salient topic.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of critical thinking within the clinical nursing context. In this review, we addressed the following specific research questions: what are the levels of critical thinking among clinical nurses?; what are the antecedents of critical thinking?; and what are the consequences of critical thinking? Methods: A narrative literature review was applied in this study. Thirteen articles published from July 2013 to December 2019 were appraised since the most recent scoping review on critical thinking among nurses was conducted from January 1999 to June 2013.Results: The levels of critical thinking among clinical nurses were moderate or high. Regarding the antecedents of critical thinking, the influence of sociodemographic variables on critical thinking was inconsistent, with the exception that levels of critical thinking differed according to years of work experience. Finally, little research has been conducted ...

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Introduction: Critical thinking dispositions (CTD) are valued across the health professions disciplines being essential for decision-making, critical judgment and managing complex health situations. Promoting critical-thinking dispositions in undergraduate nursing students can support the students to utilize critical thinking during challenging patient care and problem-solving situations. Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of critical thinking disposition among neophyte nursing students in a private nursing college. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study design was adopted. Neophyte students (n=98) of the BSN program participated in the study. Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale (CTDS) of 54 items under seven constructs was utilized to assess CTD level. Data was analyzed at descriptive and inferential level using SPSS 23.0 version. Results: Overall, CTD among neophytes nursing students is at 75% a progressive level. Contextual and inquisitiveness construct o...

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Aims and objectives To explore whether there is a correlation between critical thinking ability and clinical decision-making among nurses. Background Critical thinking is currently considered as an essential component of nurses’ professional judgment and clinical decision-making. If confirmed, nursing curricula may be revised emphasizing on critical thinking with the expectation to improve clinical decision-making and thus better healthcare. Design Integrated literature review. Methods The integrative review was carried out after a comprehensive literature search using electronic databases Ovid, EBESCO Medline, EBESCO CINAHL, PROQuest and internet search engine Google Scholar. Two hundred and twenty two articles from January 1980 to end of 2015 were retrieved. All studies evaluating the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making, published in English language with nurses or nursing students as the study population, were included. No qualitative studies were found investigating the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making, while ten quantitative studies met the inclusion criteria and were further evaluated using the Quality Assessment and Validity Tool. As a result one study was excluded due to a low quality score, with the remaining nine accepted for this review. Results Four out of nine studies established a positive relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making. Another five studies did not demonstrate a significant correlation. The lack of refinement in studies’ design and instrumentation were arguably the main reasons for the inconsistent results. Conclusions Research studies yielded contradictory results as regard to the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making, therefore the evidence is not convincing. Future quantitative studies should have representative sample size, use critical thinking measurement tools related to the healthcare sector and evaluate the predisposition of test takers towards their willingness and ability to think. There is also a need for qualitative studies to provide a fresh approach in exploring the relationship between these variables uncovering currently unknown contributing factors. Relevance to clinical practice This review confirmed that evidence to support the existence of relationships between critical thinking and clinical decision-making are still unsubstantiated. Therefore, it serves as a call for nurse leaders and nursing academics to produce quality studies in order to firmly support or reject the hypothesis that there is a statistically significant correlation between critical thinking and clinical decision-making.

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