The development and validation of a critical thinking disposition scale for physics undergraduate students Muhammad Reyza Arief Taqwa1,2, Asep Irvan Irvani1,3, Parlindungan Sinaga1*, Endi Suhendi4 and Selly Feranie4
1 Science Education Department, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
2 Physics Department, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia
3 Physics Education Study Program, Universitas Garut, Garut, Indonesia
4 Physics Department, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Abstract
This research constructs and validates a Critical Thinking Disposition (CTD) instrument tailored for physics undergraduate students, responding to the lack of discipline specific assessment tools for this population. Grounded in Faciones seven dimensional framework, the study followed a systematic procedure (item generation, pilot testing, and final validation) utilizing a sample of 193 physics undergraduates for pilot testing and 549 for final validation to evaluate the scales psychometric quality. Through exploratory factor analysis, the initial 42 item pool was reduced to a 37 item scale that preserves the original seven factor structure, Inquisitiveness, Open mindedness, Systematicity, Analyticity, Truth seeking, Confidence in Reasoning, and Cognitive Maturity. The measurement model exhibited excellent fit statistics (chi square per df = 1.034, CFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.008), affirming its structural robustness. Furthermore, convergent and discriminant validity were established through Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values between 0.502 and 0.608 alongside Composite Reliability (CR) ranging from 0.846 to 0.886. Internal consistency was also strong, with overall scale Cronbachs and McDonalds both at 0.921. The resulting instrument offers a psychometrically sound, theory driven tool for assessing CTD within physics context. This scale enables educators to identify students CTD profiles, thereby facilitating targeted instructional strategies to enhance higher order thinking in physics learning contexts.
Keywords: Development and validation, critical thinking disposition scale, physics
