This popular and often quoted essay about the meaning and importance of critical thinking was written by Dr. Peter Facione for students and the general public. It invites readers to think about critical thinking, and in so doing, it provides a sound and research-based conceptual synthesis describing critical thinking skills and habits of mind. The emphasis in the essay, beyond the definition developed, is on the personally and socially sign...

The landmark 1990 APA Delphi Report describes the findings of the two year project to articulate an international expert consensus definition of critical thinking, including its core cognitive skills. The experts identify the characteristics of an ideal critical thinker, and present specific recommendations relating to critical thinking instruction and assessment.

"The Critical Thinking Movement" of the 19...

The sample items here illustrate a few, but not all, of the items formats which appear in the adult, college and postgraduate level versions of our critical thinking skills tests. Item topics vary widely. Some people may regard some of the items on the tests themselves to be easier than these sample items shown here. Others may regard some of the items on the tests to be more difficult. Some versions of these tests include a greater proport...

Consider the following statements about beliefs, opinions, values, and preferences. Decide whether you agree or disagree with each one. Remember that since you are being asked about your own beliefs, opinions, values, and preferences, there really is no "right" or "wrong" response. The answer is whatever you say it is for you.<...

When we refer to someone as 'well educated' we are often focusing on their display of relevant content knowledge. Yet owning content knowledge is a trivial pursuit if one cannot retrieve appropriate knowledge in the context of well analyzed problems or use it to draw critical inferences in emergency situations. For this reason, "Education is nothing more, nor less, than learning to think." Peter Facione

Everyon...

A selection of published studies using one or more of the California Family of Critical Thinking Skills or Dispositions measures to research critical thinking in the Health Sciences.

A selection of published studies using one or more of the California Family of Critical Thinking Skills or Dispositions measures.

The senior research associates of Insight Assessment have engaged in the empirical and conceptual analysis of reasoning for decades. They work at the level of theory and application. They have demonstrated through their work that critical thinking can be defined, learned, taught, and accurately measured. The essay, Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts, written for the general public, shares their latest findings. It shows how critical thinking skills and habits of mind relate to life, learning, and working.<...

Published Research about critical thinking, heuristics, assessment design, skillls and dispositons by Insight Assessment senior researchers, Dr. Noreen C Facione and Dr. Peter A. Facione include:

Research and publications by Insight Assessment senior researchers about tool validation and assessment design includes:

In this allegorical essay, which appeared in Change: The Magazine of Higher Education, we walk side by side with an academic dean who is preparing to explain to the Board of Trustees the importance of critical thinking.  Between the dean’s office and the Board’s meeting room we encounter members of the faculty, staff professionals, senior administrators and coaches.  Each encounter provides the dean with another insight int...

• inquisitiveness with regard to a wide range of issues
• concern to become and remain well-informed
• alertness to opportunities to use critical thinking
• self-confidence in one’s own abilities to reason
• open-mindedness regarding divergent world views
• flexibility in considering alternatives and opinions
• understanding of the opinions of other people
• fair-mindedness in appraising reasoning
• honesty in facing one’s own biases, prejudices, stereotypes, or egocentric tendencies
• prudence in suspending, making or altering judgments
• willingness to reconsider and revise views where honest reflection suggests that change is warranted

Based on the APA Expert Consensus Delphi Report description of strong critical thinkers.<...

Dr. Peter A. (Pete) Facione brings three decades of higher education leadership experience as a Provost, Dean, Director and Department Chair. His higher education writings include essays on budgeting, governance, liberal education, outcomes assessment, faculty evaluation, and critical thinking. He has consulted on-site at over sixty institutions around the country. In 2007 Dr. Facione became a senior strategic associate with Stratus-Heery a...