Institutional context and the development of critical thinking: A researchnote

This study sought to determine if the average level of student critical thi nking at a college (i.e., the institutional context) influenced individual students' critical thinking skills. Analyses were based on data from 23 hig hly diverse two- and four-year institutions participating in the National S tudy of Student Learning with controls for 15 potentially confounding influ ences. The findings were modestly positive for students completing their fi rst year but insignificant by the end of the third year.