The Role of Gender in the Educational Process of Students’ Critical Thinking

The present study aims to compare critical thinking skills among male and female undergraduates of Tehran Shahid Rajai Teacher Training University in the 2010–2011 academic year. In this descriptive causal comparative study, 225 students in the 2010–2011 academic year were randomly selected based on Klein's criterion. Then they filled out the demographic data sheet (Form A of the California Critical Thinking Test). Findings: there is no significant difference between male and female students in terms of the total score of critical thinking (t = 0.77, p = 0.45). In other words, the average score is almost the same between male and female students. Conclusions: The results showed that in the educational process, gender is a neutral variable on the growth of critical thinking. Although research shows that the 4-year educational period of Shahid Rajai Teacher Training University was effective in the development of students’ critical thinking, it can be concluded that gender does not play any role in the development of critical thinking among male and female students.