Critical Thinking Assessment Test
CAT
Critical Thinking Institute
October 9, 2009
St. Petersburg College
Assessing for Critical Thinking
Objectives:
 Summarize CAT data from 2008 and 2009
administrations
 Panel Discussion: Feedback from CAT
Scoring Workshop Participants
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Critical Thinking Institute
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St. Petersburg College
Assessing for Critical Thinking
SPC’s definition of Critical Thinking:
“Critical thinking is the active and systematic
process of communication, problemsolving, evaluation, analysis, synthesis,
and reflection, both individually and in
community, to foster understanding,
support sound decision-making, and guide
action.”
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Critical Thinking Institute
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CAT: Critical Thinking
Assessment Test Overview
Assessing for Critical Thinking
CAT Overview
Website: http://www.tntech.edu/cat/home
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Critical Thinking Institute
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CAT: Critical Thinking
Assessment Test
Assessing for Critical Thinking
Skills Assessed by CAT (http://www.tntech.edu/cat/skills/ )
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Critical Thinking Institute
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CAT Assessment
Assessing for Critical Thinking
Skills Assessed by CAT (http://www.tntech.edu/cat/skills/ )




Evaluating Information
 Separate factual information from inferences.
 Interpret numerical relationships in graphs.
 Understand the limitations of correlational data.
 Evaluate evidence and identify inappropriate conclusions.
Creative Thinking
 Identify alternative interpretations for data or observations.
 Identify new information that might support or contradict a hypthesis.
 Explain how new information can change a problem.
Learning and Problem Solving
 Separate relevant from irrelevant information.
 Integrate information to solve problems.
 Learn and apply new information.
 Use mathematical skills to solve real-world problems.
Communication
 Communicate ideas effectively.
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CAT: Critical Thinking
Assessment Test
Assessing for Critical Thinking
• Administered by faculty champions in selected
sections in Spring 2008; faculty scoring workshop
held in July 2008 (87 assessments scored)
• Administered by faculty champions in selected
sections in Summer 2009; faculty scoring workshop
held in July 2009 (62 assessments scored)
• Future administrations in Spring sessions, possibly in
mathematics general education classes (i.e.
MAC1105, MGF1106, STA2023)
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Distribution of Students by Course:
2008/2009
Assessing for Critical Thinking
2008
2009
Course Discipline n Mean
Course
SLS1101
Life Skills
13
8.7
SPC1600 Communication 20
17.1
PHI1600
Ethics
17
13.4
PHI2624
Ethics
14
14.4
PHI1600
Ethics
30
13.6
PCB3043
Education
7
22.6
EEC2300
Education
15
13.0
PLA3474 Paralegal Studies 9
18.3
PCB3043C
Education
12
21.8
RED4511
19.4
October 9, 2009
Critical Thinking Institute
Discipline
Education
n Mean
12
8
CAT Results by Gender
Assessing for Critical Thinking
25
n =26
20
15
n = 36
n = 28
n = 85
n = 62
n = 57
10
5
0
Male
Female
2008
October 9, 2009
Overall
2009
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CAT Results by Age
Assessing for Critical Thinking
25
n = 28
20
n =28
15
n = 54
n=6
n = 25
n=8
10
5
0
18-25
26-44
2008
October 9, 2009
>44
2009
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CAT Results by Credits Earned
Assessing for Critical Thinking
25
n = 25
20
n = 41
n=5
15
n =21
n=7
n = 18
n = 23
n=9
10
5
0
< 10
10-30
31-50
2008
October 9, 2009
>50
2009
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2009: Course by Credits Earned
Assessing for Critical Thinking
Course
Credits
Earned
SPC1600 PHI2624 PCB3043 PLA3474 RED4511
< 10
4
1
0
0
0
11-30
5
4
0
0
0
31-50
5
2
0
0
0
> 50
6
7
7
9
12
Total
20
14
7
9
12
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2009: CAT Score by GPA
Assessing for Critical Thinking
2008
2009
GPA
n
Mean
n
Mean
Not reported
3
7.0
1
-
0-1.9
3
14.0
3
10.3
2.0-2.4
9
14.0
4
15.5
2.5-2.9
30
12.4
17
18.8
3.0 to 3.4
21
15.7
19
17.9
3.5 to 4.0
21
15.0
17
18.8
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CAT Scoring Workshop
Assessing for Critical Thinking
• Held on July 10, 2009 at Epicenter
• 12 Faculty participated:
 Christy Powers
 Katie Woods
 Cathy King
 Anna Neuzil
 Sarah Moseley
 Chad Mairn
 Jane Till
 Mika Nelson
 Arlene Gillis
 Darlene Westberg
 Holly Hoopes
 Irene Hayrapetian
• 62 CAT assessments were scored
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CAT Scoring Workshop Panel
Assessing for Critical Thinking
•
•
•
•
•
Arlene Gillis
Irene Hayrapetian
Holly Hoopes
Jane E. Till
Darlene Westberg
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Questions ??
Assessing for Critical Thinking
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