Disposition Towards Critical Thinking and Student Engagement in Higher Education

Álvarez-Huerta, Paula; Muela, Alexander; Larrea, Inaki

doi:10.1007/s10755-022-09614-9

Published: 10 June 2022

Disposition Towards Critical Thinking and Student Engagement in Higher Education

Paula Álvarez-Huerta¹,
Alexander Muela² &
Inaki Larrea¹

Innovative Higher Education (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Developing student critical thinking skills is a core purpose of higher education, and requires the cognitive and disposition components of critical thinking to be fostered. The present study aims to examine the relationship between disposition towards critical thinking and engagement in higher education students. Participants were 836 students from two universities in Spain. Results showed a direct and positive relationship between student critical thinking disposition and several aspects of student engagement, such as reflective learning and participation in high-impact practices. These results could inform general pedagogical practices within the higher education curriculum so as to foster critical thinking disposition among future graduates.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was supported by a grant from Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia to the Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences of Mondragon Unibertsitatea.

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Authors and Affiliations

Innovation and Intervention in Inclusive Education, HUHEZI, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Dorleta, 20540, Eskoriatza, Spain
Paula Álvarez-Huerta & Inaki Larrea
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Tolosa Hiribidea, 70, 20018, Donostia, Spain
Alexander Muela

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Paula Álvarez-Huerta
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Alexander Muela
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Inaki Larrea
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PAH conceived the research; AM analyzed the data; IL contributed to the interpretation of the results. PAH, AM and IL wrote the manuscript. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript.

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Correspondence to Paula Álvarez-Huerta.

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The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Mondragon University (Mondragon Unibertsitatea).

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Álvarez-Huerta, P., Muela, A. & Larrea, I. Disposition Towards Critical Thinking and Student Engagement in Higher Education. Innov High Educ (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09614-9

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Accepted: 10 May 2022
Published: 10 June 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09614-9

Keywords

Critical thinking disposition
Student engagement
Reflective learning
High-impact practices