Metrics
73 File views/ downloads
49 Record Views
Thesis
CRITICAL THINKING DISPOSITIONS AND MYSIDE BIAS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
University of West Florida
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2010
Abstract
This study investigated the difference between freshmen's and seniors' abilities to provide unbiased arguments for opposing sides of an emotionally laden topic. Presence of biased arguments, called myside bias, was viewed in light of students' critical thinking skills, critical thinking dispositions, and openness to experience. One hundred and fifteen freshmen and 91 seniors completed an online survey which included an argument generation task, designed to assess myside bias, and surveys that measured the other constructs aforementioned. Overall, seniors had higher levels of critical thinking skills and dispositions. While no significant differences were found between freshmen and seniors on their number of myside arguments generated or myside bias indices, there was a significant difference between the number of otherside arguments generated, with seniors providing more otherside arguments. Regression analyses revealed students' critical thinking skills and dispositions were significant, positive predictors of otherside argument generation. Overall, these results provide support for the maturation and sophistication of college students' critical thinking dispositions, most specifically their ability to provide unbiased arguments for emotionally laden topics. Methodological issues pertaining to the measurement of myside bias and critical thinking dispositions are discussed.
Details
- Title
- CRITICAL THINKING DISPOSITIONS AND MYSIDE BIAS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Identifiers
- 99380090735706600
- Academic Unit
- Psychology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Arts (MA)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida