2.3.14 Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA)
Purpose
The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) is a standardized test that measures critical thinking skills. It is a multiple-choice test that is typically administered in one sitting. The WGCTA is based on the RED model (recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, draw conclusions) and is divided into five sections: Inference, Recognition of assumptions, Deduction, Interpretation, and Evaluation of arguments.
The WGCTA is a widely used test in educational settings, and it is also used in some business and government settings. It is used for recruitment in professional services like law, banking, and insurance to assess candidates for both junior and senior positions.
Description
The original instrument was introduced first in 1964, developed by Lewis J. Watson and Edward M. Glaser. The original WGCTA, called Forms A and B, consisted of 80 items. Because it was lengthy and time-consuming to complete, Watson and Glaser created a shorter version, Form S, based on Form A in 1994. Both versions are now considered obsolete. In 2010, the Watson-Glaser™ II (Forms D and E) was released. This version is a fixed-form test that must be conducted under supervision. The newest version of the test, the Watson-Glaser™ III, was released in 2018. This 40-item online assessment draws from a bank of items and is scored using item-response theory.
In terms of validity and reliability, the WGCTA indicates good to high validity and reliability in many studies. Correlations range between 0.73 and .89, indicating high applicability. Forms D and E have been shown to correlate with measures of academic achievement, such as GPA and test scores. Another study found the WGCTA was reliable over time, meaning participants’ scores on the WGCTA remained stable over several months (Gadzella et al., 2005; Loo and Thorpe, 1999).
Access
The Watson-Glaser™ III is accessible by visiting the official Pearson website or contacting Pearson directly through their customer support. Pearson’s official website: https://www.pearsonassessments.com/
The utilization of the original instrument may necessitate the acquisition of permissions from authors. Users of this tool are advised to consult the original articles or directly contact the authors for the instrument’s availability and any associated permission requirements.
References
Amy Dawson. (2024). Watson-Glaser test. Retrieved from https://psychometric-success.com/aptitude-tests/test-types/watson-glaser-test
Gadzella, B. M., Stacks, J., Stephens, R. C., & Masten, W. G. (2005). The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal-Form S for Education Majors: A validity study. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 32(1), 51–58. https://eric.ed.gov/?redir=http%3a%2f%2fwww.projectinnovation.biz%2fjip.html
Loo, R. and Thorpe, K. (1999). A psychosomatic investigation scores on the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal New Form S. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 59(6), 995–1003.
Watson, G., & Glaser, E. M. (1980). Watson-Glaser critical thinking appraisal: Forms A and B Manual. Psychological Corporation.
Watson, G., and Glaser, E.M. (l994a). Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Manual. Psychological Corporation.
Watson. G., and Glaser. E.M. (1994b). Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, Form-S. Psychological Corporation.
Watson, G., & Glaser, E. M. (2019). Watson-Glaser III Critical Thinking Appraisal: User’s guide and technical manual. Pearson.
