Consider
the following 25 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.
You can indicate the extent of your affirmation or rejection
of each statement by giving each one a point value where as
follows.
6
= Agree Strongly
5 = Agree
4 = Agree Marginally
3 = Disagree Marginally
2 = Disagree
1 = Disagree Strongly
1.
I hate talk-radio hosts because they shout out their views without
really listening to the other side.
2. I won't let what scientists might say weaken my core
beliefs.
3. I prefer jobs where the supervisor says exactly what
to do, and exactly when and how to do it.
4. It's important to me to figure out what people really
mean by what they say.
5. Don't kid yourself, changing your mind is a sign
of weakness.
6. I always do better in jobs where I'm expected to
think things out for myself.
7. If I wanted to persuade someone of something, I wouldn't
stop talking until the person gave up.
8. My friends expect me to be able to figure out a smart
way to deal with all kinds of problems.
9. For me the best way to make decisions is to go with
my gut feelings.
10. I hold off making decisions until I've thought through my options.
11. No matter how complex the problem, you can bet there's a really
simple solution.
12. Rather than relying on someone else's notes, I prefer to read
the material myself.
13. I enjoy challenging myself mentally.
14. I try to see the merit in another's opinion, even if I reject
it later.
15. I don't want to be on a jury because it means deciding something
beyond a reasonable doubt.
16. People say I change my mind too easily.
17. If my belief is truly sincere, evidence to the contrary is irrelevant.
18. I'd love to learn all kinds of new things just for the fun of
it.
19. Even if a problem is tougher than I expected, I'll keep working
on it.
20. I hate it when teachers want to discuss test questions instead
of just giving the answers.
21. I can spend days and days thinking about my problems.
22. Making intelligent decisions is more important than winning
arguments.
23. When it comes to decision-making I don't waste time speculating
about options.
24. There are lots of things I'm too frightened to think seriously
about.
25. Reasons are like cheap rental cars, there are plenty of them
around and none are any good.
©2006
The California Academic Press LLC, Millbrae CA.
It's
a common experience to encounter people with skills they are not
motivated to use. And perhaps equally common to know people who
are motivation to things for which, unfortunately, they lack the
skills. Reasoning and critical thinking follow this pattern. Some
people are more positively disposed to apply their critical thinking
skills whenever they have decisions to make or problems to solve;
others are ambivalent and at times seem willing to apply their
reasoning skills while at other times seem unwilling to do so;
and still others are more strongly disposed not to approach the
difficulties they encounter using that set of skills.
To learn more about critical thinking dispositions, download free
"Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why it Counts."
Click
here for the PDF.
Click
here for information on reasoning motivation and disposition measures.
For
a discussion of how the positive or negative disposition toward
critical thinking affects the working and learning, click
here.
For a more complete technical discussion of the disposition toward
critical thinking, click
here.
