Critical Thinking in Education: New Research Reveals Promising Approach

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Texas A&M University have published a new study on the importance of critical thinking in education, detailing a behaviorally-anchored competency-based model for assessing students' self-perceived critical thinking behavioral change. The study uses the QUEEN Critical Thinking Model to teach and evaluate critical thinking behaviors in upper-level leadership ethics courses, with significant increases in students' self-perceived critical thinking behaviors observed over a one-semester treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study suggests that critical thinking can be taught and improved through the use of a behaviorally-anchored competency-based approach, such as the QUEEN Critical Thinking Model.
  • The QUEEN Student Self-Assessment indicates that students' critical thinking behaviors increased significantly over one semester in upper-level leadership ethics courses.
  • Researchers recommend that instructors design learning strategies that teach critical thinking behaviors to prepare students to close the essential skills gap.
  • The study highlights the need for adequate inclusion of critical thinking andragogy in the curriculum to address the existing dichotomy between teaching critical thinking and actual student skills.

Statistics:

  • 85% increase in students' self-perceived critical thinking behaviors over one semester.
  • The QUEEN Critical Thinking Model was used to teach and evaluate critical thinking behaviors in upper-level leadership ethics courses.
  • The study targeted 30 undergraduate students in the fall semester of 2024.
  • The one-semester treatment resulted in significant increases in students' self-perceived critical thinking behaviors.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Study Results from Texas A&M University Broaden Understanding of Education (Upcoming Measuring Impacts of Andragogical Treatments: An Experimental Study of Self-perceived Critical Thinking Behavioral Change in Undergraduate Students). Education Letter. October 29, 2025; p 865.
  • Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Upcoming Measuring Impacts of Andragogical Treatments: An Experimental Study of Self-perceived Critical Thinking Behavioral Change in Undergraduate Students. 2025, 25(4).
  • Indiana University Office of Scholarly Publishing. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.