Um estudo sobre padrões de ativação cerebral durante atividades de pensamento crítico

Abstract

The literature defines Critical Thinking (CT) as the ability to evaluate arguments and form objective judgments based on solid reasons and evidence. Its relevance is widely supported by the literature due to its importance in academic, professional, personal, and social contexts. It is unknown whether there are performance differences in CT among individuals engaged in different fields of knowledge. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the performance differences in a CT test among university students from different areas of knowledge. The specific objectives include: (a) developing an assessment instrument for CT in the Portuguese language spoken in Brazil; (b) investigating the relationship between CT and fluid (gf) and crystallized (gc) intelligences; (c) determining the best predictor of the Test for Critical Thinking Assessment (TCTA); (d) exploring, through electroencephalography (EEG), the characteristics of brain cortex activation related to Theta, Alpha, and Beta waves in individuals with high and low performance in the CT test. Sample: Participants from three knowledge groups comprised the study: Group 1, Biological Sciences; Group 2, STEM; and Group 3, Humanities. The average age was 26.2 years; SD = 10.3, with 47.4% women and 52.6% men. Instruments: The TAPC (CT), Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test (gc), and abstract reasoning test B1 (gf) were administered to the entire sample. A part of this sample underwent EEG. Results: It was found that: (1) the STEM group performed better on the TCTA compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05); (2) there was a positive and significant correlation between the TCTA and PISA tests (r = 0.36; p < 0.05); and (3) the PISA test (gc) was the best predictor of CT, as indicated by the linear regression analysis. Finally, the EEG results showed differences in EEG Coherence between the High and Low performance groups on the TCTA, especially for the Alpha and Theta bands. This study revealed innovative results in the Brazilian academic context with the potential to significantly contribute to the assessment and understanding of Critical Thinking (CT).