Abstract
Critical thinking is a central part of our daily life. It has great importance in immunizing the individual against the vast amount of information, events, and situations that the individual deals with and faces. This study aimed at identifying differences in critical thinking according to different variables. The variables were specializations (scientific, literary), gender (male, female), the Grade Point Average (GPA) and the scores of Jordanian high school national exam (Tawjiji) to predict critical thinking skills. This quantitative study used the descriptive approach by applying Watson's and Glasser's [16] critical thinking appraisal short form transferred to Arabic by Alotaibi [7]. This study was applied to a sample comprising (216) students from Ajloun University College, affiliated with Al-Balqa Applied University, students in Jordan. The results indicated that the study sample had high levels of critical thinking of sub- skills and a high level in critical thinking as for the total scores. There were statistically significant differences in all critical thinking of sub- skills according to specializations in favour of the scientific stream. Besides, there were statistically significant differences in all critical thinking skills according to gender in favour of males. Also, critical thinking could be predicted by the degree of the national examination for high school in Jordan (Tawjiji) but not by Grade Point Average (GPA). The differences in critical thinking between students of scientific streams and literary ones may refer to the difference in school curricula. The scientific courses focus on critical thinking skills more than literary ones. Therefore, it was important to include critical thinking skills in school curricula since critical thinking skills are very important in an individual's success both in study and life.
Highlights
Learning and teaching thinking skills became a requirement for all students
Critical Thinking Appraisal Short Form Test (W-GCTA) [16] was translated to Arabic by Alotaibi [7] who conducted it to the study sample to evaluate critical thinking
The calculation was built on Watson's and Glaser's Critical Thinking Appraisal Short Form Test used in this study as shown in table (4)
Summary
Learning and teaching thinking skills became a requirement for all students. It is not limited to the most intelligent and distinguished, but includes those who have less intelligence and excellence. Daniels [10] defined critical thinking as the ability to verify and correct a phenomenon and to base on specific criteria It was defined as a self-organized judgment that aimed at interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and conclusion. Many researchers focused on the importance of teaching critical thinking and developing its abilities among students. That is because it contributes to building the intellectual personality capable of facing the requirements of the rapid change that we live in. It is important to know the level of critical thinking among Tawjihi and university students and its relationship to their. Knowing the level of critical thinking among Tawjihi and university students enables us to judge the effectiveness of the teaching process. Could Grade Point Average (GPA) and the degree of National Examination for High School in Jordan (Tawjiji) predict critical thinking significantly?
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