The development and psychometric validation of a Critical Thinking Disposition Scale

This article describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (CTDS). Items for the scale were generated using taxonomies of important thinking dispositions discussed in the literature. Participants comprised of two cohorts of first year undergraduate and graduate students enrolled on a programme in education. Psychometric evaluation was carried out using two studies. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (n = 467) revealed a two-factor model for the scale: Critical Openness and Reflective Scepticism. In Study 2 (n = 371), a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) supported the two-factor model across both undergraduate and graduate groups. Results from the MGCFA showed that both groups understood the items in a similar way, and the CTDS successfully discriminated between these theoretically different groups. Educators, psychologists and researchers may find the CTDS a useful tool for measuring individuals’ disposition to critical thinking. Immediate future research should focus on establishing the strength of relationship between the CTDS and other cognitive measures of critical thinking.

► A Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (CTDS) was developed. ► Psychometric properties of the scale were tested. ► Two dimensions – Critical Openness and Reflective Scepticism – were identified. ► There was confirmatory support for the two-factor model in two different samples. ► Psychometric properties show the CTDS is a valid and reliable instrument.