Critical Thinking Disposition – counts and matters in Post-registration SCPH Nurse Education

Can you define critical thinking? Does your teaching promote critical thinking? Paul et al (1997) found that whilst 89 % of higher education teachers claimed to be teaching for critical thinking, only 19 % could define it, and only 9 % were teaching to develop it. The nature of critical thinking is informed by different philosophical traditions and contested. A Delphi study by the American Philosophical Association (1990) established an eclectic definition that includes reference to both skills and dispositions. Tools have been developed to measure both skills and disposition, and the synergistic relationship between them has been established. Critical thinking disposition is conceptualized by Facione et al (1994) as encompassing the non-discrete elements of truth-seeking, open-mindedness, systematicity, cognitive maturity, critical thinking, self-confidence, analyticity and inquisitiveness. The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) measures disposition and has acceptable validity and reliability. It can be used t