Can critical thinking be briefly assessed?

Abstract

The aim of our study was to validate a short version of the PENCRISAL complete critical thinking test, in Spanish and Portuguese. Here we present the first. This short version consists of 2 factors, with 3 items each. One factor assesses general argumentation, and the other the forms of reasoning most used on a daily basis. In addition, both factors indirectly evaluate decision-making and problem solving, thanks to the nature of the items, in which daily problems are raised that must be solved and for which decisions must sometimes be made. The confirmatory factor analysis offers us solid and consistent indices that support the structure of the short version of the test presented. The reliability and validity coefficients are reasonably robust, as to make this test serve very well for the stated objectives