Critical Thinking Disposition of Agriculture and Natural Resources Students (case study: Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran)

The main purpose of this study was to investigate critical thinking disposition of agricultural students, of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Tehran. The statistical population of the study consisted of 3859 agricultural and natural resources students in 2009-2010 academic year of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran from that 185 students were randomly selected. Data were gathered through the application of an instrument consisted of two parts including Facione's “California Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (1992), and demographic data. The research instrument was given to the academic staff of the department of agricultural extension and education, University of Tehran totest its content validity. Cronbach alpha was calculated to measure reliability of items of critical thinking disposition a = 0.69 - 0.87. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Results showed that agricultural students had a positive disposition towards critical thinking although respondents in some subscales (analyticity, truth-seeking and critical thinking self-confidence) were ambivalently disposed towards critical thinking. Also, results indicated that there was no significant difference in critical thinking disposition between undergraduate and graduate students.