Assessing Critical Thinking in Higher Education: Validity Evidence for the Use of the HEIghten™ Critical Thinking Test in Ireland

Abstract

The HEIghten Critical Thinking Test (HCTT), developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), has gained traction both in the United States (US) and elsewhere. This study presents preliminary validity evidence for the use of the HCTT in Ireland. We provide evidence of the HCTT’s overall structure, reliability, and relationships with student-level variables. While some item discrimination and reliability indices are not optimal, results of other analyses support the low stakes use of the HCTT in an Irish context. The procedures and outcomes of the study will be of interest to those planning to validate an existing high quality measure of critical thinking in local contexts.