How do college students develop critical thinking through their coursework? This collaborative study—conducted by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, University of Jyväskylä, and the Council for Aid to Education (CAE)—examines learning gains across disciplines to uncover what drives improvement in critical thinking performance.
Key Insights:
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The study measures changes in students’ critical thinking abilities using CAE’s performance-based assessment tools.
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Higher education students from both Finland and the United States gained critical thinking skills between the time they enter and exit their school.
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Learning gains were greater for the American students, despite Finnish students entering with a higher average CLA+ score.
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Given the students’ modest learning gains, higher education institutions can do more to improve critical thinking skills.
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Why It Matters:
As higher education evolves, understanding how to effectively cultivate critical thinking is essential to preparing graduates for an uncertain, complex world. This research offers evidence-based insights for educators, policymakers, and institutional leaders.
