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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 16. Number 2, June 2025 Pp.414-429
Department of Romance and German Studies, Faculty of Arts, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
Department of English and American Studies, Faculty of Arts, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
In the context of globalization, education systems, including those in Slovakia, are increasingly tasked with creating productive learning environments that integrate life and academic skills. Thus, we aim to validate and establish the reliability of an adapted questionnaire designed to measure the development of critical thinking among young adolescents in Slovakia. The study employs a mixed-methods research which included expert evaluations, pilot testing, and a statistical analysis to assess both the content validity and the internal consistency of the instrument. The research addresses a significant gap in educational studies, as no existing tool currently meets this specific need in the Slovak context. Grounded in a comprehensive theoretical framework, the research explores critical thinking as an essential educational skill. It examines cognitive, moral, and psychological characteristics of young adolescents to ensure the tool’s demographic relevance. The adapted questionnaire demonstrated a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.81) and positive expert validation ratings, confirming its suitability for the targeted population. The findings have established a reliable instrument for assessing critical thinking development and contribute to the broader discourse on enhancing educational practices. The study concludes with some recommendations for future research on applying the validated tool in educational settings to measure critical thinking development of young adolescents over time and to include targeted interventions into Slovak school curricula.
Poulikova, I., & Gadusova, Z. (2025). Validating a Critical Thinking Questionnaire for Young Adolescents: A Preparatory Study for a Longitudinal Research. Arab World English Journal, 16(2):414-429.
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Ivana Poulíková is a second-year PhD student at the Department of Romance and German Studies, Faculty of Arts, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. Her research focuses on developing foreign language reading comprehension and critical thinking skills among young learners. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7548-4988
Zdenka Gadušová is a professor at the Department of English and American Studies, Faculty of Arts, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. Her primary focus is foreign language teaching methodology, teacher education, and reading literacy research. She has coordinated and participated in numerous national and international research and educational projects. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8954-659X