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Critical-Thinking Predisposition Among Undergraduate Athletic Training Students.
Deidre Leaver-Dunn1, Gary L Harrelson, Malissa Martin
1The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Journal of Athletic Training
|August 26, 2003
Summary
Undergraduate athletic training students show a mild inclination towards critical thinking, with opportunities to strengthen truth-seeking skills. Educators should foster critical thinking components in athletic training programs.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Health Professions Education
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Critical thinking is essential for athletic trainers.
- Assessing critical thinking in undergraduate athletic training students is important for program development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate critical thinking tendencies in undergraduate athletic training students.
- To assess the use of specific critical thinking components.
- To examine the influence of demographic and educational variables on critical thinking.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 91 undergraduate athletic training students from 3 accredited programs.
- Utilized the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) with 75 Likert-type items.
- Analyzed data using ANOVA and correlation analyses.
Main Results:
- Students exhibited a general, mild trend toward critical thinking, with lower scores in truth-seeking.
- Significant differences in truth-seeking, open-mindedness, and maturity were found among institutions.
- No significant relationships were identified between critical thinking scores and demographic or educational variables.
Conclusions:
- Athletic training students possess a weak inclination towards critical thinking.
- Educational strategies should be implemented to enhance critical thinking skills in athletic training programs.
- Promoting critical thinking is vital for advancing athletic training education and the profession.