To conduct effective and efficient studies on critical thinking, this cognitive ability must be measured within the framework of certain standards. Based on this need, the development of the “Istanbul Critical Thinking Scale”, which was based on the original Delphi report method, constitutes the main purpose of this study. The research was organized under psychological scale development methods. The population was from Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. The sample (N = 1031) was randomly selected from the departments of these universities that accept students with different score types. As a result of the analysis, the item pool of five dimensions was prepared: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation, and the “Istanbul Critical Thinking Scale” consisting of three dimensions (interpretation, evaluation, and inference) and a total of 25 items were developed. Analyses were carried out with confirmatory factor analysis. Diagonally weighted least squares were used as the estimation method. Some items were gradually removed from the scale by examining the standardized path coefficients and fit indices obtained as a result of the analyses. The reliability of the total and sub-dimensions of the scale was calculated by the stratified Cronbach alpha method. The fit indices of the scale were found to be at an acceptable level, and the internal consistency was 0.68.
Cite this article as: Aykaç, B., & Aslan, A. E. (2021). Developing İstanbul critical thinking scale. HAYEF: Journal of Education, 19(1), 9-17.