Critical thinking in nursing students from two Brazilian regions

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the overall critical thinking and the development of each of the cognitive skills or attributes that compose it in students of the undergraduate program in nursing through the creation of concept maps in two Brazilian teaching institutions. Method: Before-and-after experimental study, randomized, performed in two universities of two Brazilian regions, with a sample of 21 subjects at the A school and 56 at the B school. Data were collected through sociodemographic questionnaire and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test. Intervention consisted in the creation of four concept maps. Results: Scores measured for overall critical thinking do not differed between the groups of both schools; however, positive aspects among them were found for skills of evaluation, induction, and inference. Conclusion: We perceived validity as a facilitating teaching strategy of the use of concept maps in several aspects.摘要 研究目的：通过在两所巴西教学机构中引导护理学本科专业学生绘制概念图，分析其批判性思维整体水平，以及构成批判性思维的各项认知技能与属性的发展情况。 研究方法：采用随机化前后对照实验设计，在巴西两个地区的两所高校开展研究。其中A校受试者样本量为21名，B校为56名。数据通过社会人口学问卷与加利福尼亚批判性思维技能测验（California Critical Thinking Skills Test）收集。干预措施为引导学生完成4份概念图的绘制。 研究结果：两所学校受试者的整体批判性思维得分无显著差异，但在评估、归纳与推理技能方面呈现出积极变化。 研究结论：本研究认为，概念图的应用作为一种教学辅助策略，在多个方面均体现出良好的教学促进效度与应用价值。