Causal Effect of Two Predominant Factors on Critical Thinking Disposition

Many studies in the literature indicate relationships between epistemological beliefs, metacognition, and critical thinking. All these constructs either directly or indirectly affect learning and cognition. In this research, we aim to disclose the magnitude of the direct effect the epistemological beliefs has on metacognition and critical thinking as well as determining the size of direct effect of metacognition and indirect effect of epistemological beliefs on critical thinking. To determine magnitude of the postulated direct and indirect causal effects between the three constructs, we collected and analyzed a set of data reflecting 234 college students’ level of epistemological beliefs, metacognition, and critical thinking. Then a specific structural equation model (SEM), namely structural regression (SR) model, employed for data analysis. Keywords: SEM, epistemological beliefs, metacognition, critical thinking, S