Critical thinking in university students from Ayacucho, Peru 2024

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the level of critical thinking by gender in university students from a public institution in Ayacucho, Peru. The research followed a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, basic, cross-sectional, and descriptive design. The sample consisted of 71 participants selected through non-probabilistic incidental sampling. A questionnaire based on a standardized critical thinking assessment instrument was used, whose validity and reliability had been previously established. The analysis covered five dimensions of critical thinking: logical, substantive, dialogical, contextual, and pragmatic. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare scores between genders. The results indicate that both men and women exhibit a predominantly medium-high level of critical thinking, with no statistically significant differences between the groups. However, a transversal weakness was identified in the substantive dimension. The study ensured participant confidentiality and obtained informed consent. The findings provide relevant evidence on critical thinking development within Latin American higher education and offer pedagogical insights for strengthening this competence in university settings.