Prediction of Critical Thinking Based on Autonomous Learning and Epistemological Beliefs in Dentistry Students

Critical thinking is a set of mental attitudes and habits that promote the ability to research, problem solving, self-management, decision-making and lifelong learning in students.The purpose of this study was to predict the tendency toward critical thinking and self-learning based on epistemological beliefs in dentistry students. The research method was cross sectional descriptive. The statistical population of the study was all enrolled dentistry students of University of Medical Sciences (221 people) in the academic year 2018-2017
Among them, 150 students (62 boys and 88 girls) were selected by random sampling method. In order to collect data, the Schumer's Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire (1998), Pintrich and De Groot Learning Strategies Questionnaire (1990) and Badri's Critical Thinking Scale (2007) were used.
To analyze data, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used. Findings showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between epistemological beliefs and the tendency to critical thinking and between self-learning and its components with critical thinking. Also, regression analysis showed that the epistemological beliefs predict 41% and self-learning predicts 45% of critical thinking.
Learning autonomy and epistemological beliefs can be considered as influential factors on the student's critical thinking