The Role of Graduate Students’ Achievement Goals in Their Critical Thinking Disposition

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the role of graduate students’ achievement goals in their disposition towards critical thinking in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. In a descriptive- correlation study, a sample consisting 167 graduate students was selected by using stratified random sampling method. They completed Midgley et al.’s (1998) Goal Orientations Questionnaire and Ricketts’ (2003) Critical Thinking Dispositions Questionnaire. Results showed statistically significant relationship between all three components of students’ achievement goals and their critical thinking disposition and 62% of variance of critical thinking disposition could be predicted by achievement goals. Besides, only the master goals could singly predict critical thinking disposition.