Critical thinking disposition linked to CGPA in polytechnic students

What the study found: The study found no significant relation between gender and department, but it did find a strong relationship between CGPA and critical thinking disposition among polytechnic students. It also points to a need for special assistance in cultivating students’ critical thinking dispositions, especially in engagement and maturity.
Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that students need special assistance in developing critical thinking dispositions, particularly in the areas of engagement and maturity. The study suggests this is relevant for polytechnic students in the northern zone of Malaysia.
What the researchers tested: The researchers explored critical thinking dispositions among 194 polytechnic students from the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments in northern Malaysia. They used the Engagement, Maturity, and Innovativeness (EMI) critical thinking disposition assessment and analyzed the data with SPSS version 21 using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, independent sample t-test, and Pearson’s correlation.
What worked and what didn't: The analysis showed no significant relation between gender and department. In contrast, there was a strong relationship between CGPA and critical thinking disposition. The abstract does not report additional outcomes.
What to keep in mind: The study is limited to 194 students from two engineering departments in polytechnics in northern Malaysia. Other limitations are not described in the available summary.

Key points

• No significant relation was found between gender and department.
• CGPA showed a strong relationship with critical thinking disposition.
• The study examined 194 polytechnic students in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments.
• The EMI critical thinking disposition assessment was used.
• The authors say students need special assistance, especially in engagement and maturity.