Effect of critical thinking disposition on interpretation of controversial issues: Evaluating evidences and drawing conclusions

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate how critical thinking disposition and belief affect drawing conclusion process. First, we composed critical disposition scale. Four-hundreds and twenty-six university students completed critical thinking disposition questionnaire. Exploratory factorial analyses extracted four factors which were called 'awareness for logical thinking', 'inquiry-mind', 'objectiveness', and 'evidence based judgment'. Reliability and validity were adequate to good. Second, we examined that critical thinking disposition and belief affect drawing conclusion process from contrary evidences. Eighty-five university students participated in this study. As a result, it was found that belief bias had influence on evaluation of the evidence. And it was found that the adequate evaluation of the evidence affects draw a correct conclusion. Furthermore, 'inquiry-mind' that one of critical thinking disposition factors enables to avoid belief bias. So, it was revealed that this critical thinking disposition was an important factor to conclude correctly from contrary evidences.