Skeptical Thinking in the Classroom and its Impact - School of Arts ...

An analysis of the TOSRA range and the activities range shows that the TOSRA test
showed a general correlation between the two. 70% of the students that scored very
positive or positive scored in the same range from the overall activities (5 0f the 7
improved and 2 held constant), while 30% scored lower. 50% of the neutral positive
increased, while 50% of the neutral positive decreased. 33% of the neutral negative
stayed the same, while 66% increased.
The correlation was not as strong as I had hoped. The weakness of the correlation of the
data may be an indication of the non-transferring nature of logical/critical thinking skills.
The data also indicates that students that have the most positive attitude towards science
generally are less credulous than students with a poorer attitude towards science. As
scientific attitudes decrease the correlation becomes less evident.
TOSRA vs Activities
TOSRA
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Activities
Series1
Out of the eight students that scored the maximum in the activities six scored above 245
on the TOSRA test, but one student scored under 200. Out of the three students that
scored the lowest on the TOSRA test only one stayed in the negative range.
The activities scaled range gives a better description as to how their skeptical thinking
skills are developed at this point. The data from the different activities shows how
inconsistently skeptical thinking is applied when it comes to different topics. Students 5,
6, 12, & 4a all scored negatively in all of the activities.
Activity Analysis
Student 1 scored highest in the horoscope activity, but scored lowest in the Hope
Diamond and Ghost activities.
Student 7 scored highest in the ghost activity, lowest in the Hope Diamond and low
positive in the horoscope activity