Identification of Critical Thinking Dispositions of Teacher Candidates

Abstract

Current study aims to identify critical thinking disposition of teacher candidates and investigate critical thinking disposition in terms of different variables. study was undertaken with a total of 220 teachers from Classroom Teaching, Science Teaching, Primary School Mathematics Teaching and Computer Education and Instructional Technology (CEIT) Departments of Faculty of Education. The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) adapted to Turkish was utilized in the study to find out critical thinking dispositions. Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic means, ANOVA and t-tests were used in data analysis. Critical thinking disposition of teacher candidates was found to be positive based on the findings obtained in the study. Differences were observed in critical thinking disposition depending on gender, class levels and departments of teacher candidates. No differences were identified based on father's occupation, location of family home and the type of high school graduation.