Evaluation of Critical Thinking in Higher Education in Oman

Abstract

The study aims to identify the critical level thinking of students in higher education. It is focused to evaluate the level of critical thinking variables among the students in Nizwa College of Technology and to determine whether these variables are influenced by gender and department. The data for the research is collected from 281 diploma students from Engineering, Information Technology and Business departments of Nizwa College of Technology, Sultanate of Oman. The statements for the instrument are adopted from Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking model consisting of the five variables, namely Inference, Assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation and Arguments. Male students show more of inference and interpretation skills than female students. It is proved that gender has no relationship on assumption and deduction. Females show more argument skills than male students. Students in Engineering department have a high inference level and deduction level than other departments. Business and Information Technology department students have high assumption level than Engineering students. Business department students have high evaluation of arguments than other departments. Students of Information Technology department are high in interpretation than other students.