ERIC Number: EJ1004916
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jan
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0098-6283
EISSN: N/A
Guidelines for a Scientific Approach to Critical Thinking Assessment
Bensley, D. Alan; Murtagh, Michael P.
Teaching of Psychology, v39 n1 p5-16 Jan 2012
Assessment of student learning outcomes can be a powerful tool for improvement of instruction when a scientific approach is taken; unfortunately, many educators do not take full advantage of this approach. This article examines benefits of taking a scientific approach to critical thinking assessment and proposes guidelines for planning, conducting, and using assessment research. Specifically, we discuss study design options and strategies for improving the quality of assessment data and the use of such data to improve critical thinking instruction in programs. Examples of practices from three programs that have conducted considerable critical thinking assessment illustrate use of the guidelines. Using scientific assessment to develop evidence-based educational practices shows great promise in contributing to the scholarship of teaching critical thinking. (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Scientific Methodology, Critical Thinking, Best Practices, Educational Practices, Instructional Development, Evaluation Criteria, Evaluation Methods, Methods Research, Evidence, Instructional Improvement, Outcome Measures, Outcomes of Education
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A