Automating the Measurement of Critical Thinking for Individuals Participating in Discussion Forums

The use of discussion forums in an educational setting is increasing. However the extent to which discussion forums contribute to learning is subject to debate. A review of the literature reveals some evidence of researchers attempting to develop models that measure indicators of critical thinking for group participation within a discussion forum; however, there is little evidence of research aimed at measuring the critical thinking of individuals. This paper builds on previous studies presented by the authors which have reported on the use of a computerized tool designed to measure evidence of critical thinking among participants in a discussion forum. The paper presents an attempt to validate the computerized tool as it is used to measure evidence of critical thinking for individual participants. The validation process involved comparing the results obtained using the tool against the results obtained from administering a recognized critical thinking skills assessment.