Critical Thinking Disposition in Students of Vocational School of Health Services

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the critical thinking dispositions of the students attending at the associate degree program of Vocational School of Health Services and to determine the factors affecting their critical thinking dispositions. All the students, attending at the associate degree program at Vocational School of Health Services of a university in 2010-2011 academic year, constituted the population of the study. 413 students, who were accessible and accepted to participate in the study, were included in sample group of the study. Data was collected using questionnaire form and the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. It was determined that 66.8% of the students participating in the study were female, 30% were 19-year old and 59.1% were first-year students. The maximum participation was specified from the medical documentation and secretariat (24.5%) program. The critical thinking disposition scores of the students included within the scope of the study were 201.22±22.41 and at low level. As a result of the analyses performed, it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the critical thinking total mean scores according to the gender, age, program, grade and school achievement status (p>0.05). The educators should try active learning strategies that provide meaningful learning in order to develop the critical thinking skills of the students in the vocational schools of health services