A Comparative Study of Critical Thinking Skills and Critical Thinking Dispositions in Veterans and Non-Veterans Students

Today critical thinking is introduced as the main output of higher education by scholars. The aim of this study was to compare critical thinking skills and critical thinking dispositions in veterans and non-veteran students in Gilanegharb and Ghasreshirin city in the in the second half of 1389. This comparative study was performed on 80 veterans and non-veteran students in Gilanegharb and Ghasreshirin Islamic Azad University. Data was collected by the California critical thinking skills test and the California critical thinking disposition questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS 15 software using independent MANOVA. The mean and standard deviation score of critical thinking skills was 12.45 ± 2.12 in non-veteran students and 12.12± 2.51in veteran students. The mean and standard deviation score of critical thinking dispositions was 262.34 ± 25.64 in non-veteran students and 278.46 ± 20.17 in veteran students. The mean score of critical thinking dispositions between non-veteran and veteran students showed a significant difference in truth component (p=0.001) and veterans have shown more positive trends in growth and searching components. Considering the results of the study, planners and authorities must devote more attention to develop critical thinking dispositions in their educational programs.