The purpose of this paper is to present a dimensional simplification of the concept of "critical thinking" ("the correct assessing of statements") which will provide a basis for research. Three dimensions of critical thinking--logical, criterial, pragmatic--are distinguished, and 12 aspects of critical thinking are identified and elaborated by a…

From 180 primary children of varied backgrounds half were selected for instruction in conditional logic by means of an audio-tutorial method. At the termination of 15 weekly lessons the experimental students did no better than the control students on our individually-administered conditional logic test ("Smith-Sturgeon Conditional Reasoning…

The development of the college curriculum to include instruction in critical thinking is discussed, including the issue of discipline-specificity versus topic-specificity, defining general principles of critical thinking, transfer of principles, and inclusion of critical thinking at lower educational levels. (MSE)

Responds to John McPeck's article, "Critical Thinking and Subject Specificity: A Reply to Ennis" (May 1990), and summarizes his earlier essay. Covers the following topics: (1) versions of subject specificity; (2) vagueness; (3) the distinction between school-subject matter and the subject matter of everyday life; (4) subjects and topics;…

Proposes an expanded definition of critical thinking and discusses its components. Includes an outline of goals and objectives for a critical thinking curriculum. (MCG)

Examines the meaning of subject specificity, a crucial aspect of teaching and assessing critical thinking. Discusses a number of distinctions, including a distinction among domain, epistemological, and conceptual subject specificity. Outlines future research needs. (FMW)

Suggests that critical thinking assessment is difficult to do well, but it is possible. Notes that difficulties and possibilities vary with the purpose of the assessment and the format used. After examining published critical thinking tests, the paper explains how to create customized tests. (SM)

Reviews three areas of critical thinking suspected of reflecting a male bias: discrimination against females in educational settings where critical thinking is taught, neglect of females in research about thinking, and conceptions of critical thinking that emphasize characteristics typically attributed to males over those typically attributed to…

This book examines approaches to the evaluation of students' critical thinking on programmatic, school-based, and classroom levels. The first chapter examines the nature of critical thinking and offers a definition as well as an appraisal of the definition. The second chapter looks at methods of gathering quality information on students' critical…

A discussion of evaluating informal logic competence centers on the identification of currently available tests and on a description of test theory, to aid in test selection. The following concepts in test theory are discussed: norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests, true scores, reliability, validity, test selection and evaluation, test…