Critical Thinking Rubric 2*

(Focus on Analysis, Modeling, & Application)

5. Master Thinker

• Develops new analysis tools or techniques that can be generalized to many empirical fields.
• Generalizes models and theories to improve their operational value across fields.
• Creates new methods for reducing bias and error across empirical research fields.
• Able to apply highly generalized criteria to avoid biased conclusions about the value of evidence and inferences.
• Researches new data analysis methods to establish their validity and range of applicability.

4. Advanced Thinker

• Skillfully uses available analysis methods to draw out inferences useful in guiding further research.
• Skillfully selects appropriate research models and designs useful in specific fields.
• Skillfully applies research designs that will predictably reduce bias and error.
• Skillfully selects and uses valid methods for assessing strength of evidence and accuracy of logic in drawing inferences.
• Skillfully selects and uses valid methods of data analysis across many contexts.

3. Practicing Thinker

• Effectively applies specific techniques that are recommended for analyzing current knowledge for gaps that suggest needed research.
• Writes operational hypothesis statements that are focused on interaction of key variables.
• Demonstrates consistency in using recommended methods for reducing bias and error.
• Assesses the strength of evidence and logic of inferences using recommended methods.
• Flexibly applies data analysis methods for familiar decision or judgment contexts.

2. Beginning Thinker

• Summarizes, but can't systematically analyze, the current state of knowledge in an area of interest.
• Imitates recommended models for writing operational hypothesis statements.
• Aware of techniques for reducing bias and error, but inconsistently applies those known.
• Recognizes the need to assess strength and logic of evidence, but does so inconsistently.
• Imitates data analysis methods accurately but is unable to select methods independently.

1. Egocentric Thinker

• Assumes published materials are equally true in the sense of presenting different facts about reality.
• Rarely distinguishes independent from dependent variables in published reports.
• Demonstrates limited awareness of major sources of bias and error in empirical research.
• Uses the "method of authority" with limited awareness of the need to assess the strength or validity of evidence and inferences.
• Unable to independently analyze data.

*Based, in part, on aspects of critical thinking presented in Diane S. Halpern (1996). Thought & knowledge: An introduction to critical thinking (3rd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.