The Generalizability of Critical Thinking: Paranormal Beliefs Versus Statistical Reasoning

The generalizability of general (content-independent) critical thinking ability, assessed by the Cornell Critical Thinking Test, was assessed in university undergraduates. Study 1 (N = 97) examined the relationship between performance on the Cornell test and level of belief in paranormal phenomena. Study 2 (N = 109) examined the relationship between the Cornell test scores and statistical reasoning in novices. Cornell test scores accounted for a significant proportion of the variability in statistical reasoning, but not in level of belief in the paranormal. Level of purported paranormal experience was not related to either Cornell test score or intelligence, but it was a significant predictor of paranormal belief. The pattern of results suggested that, although the evaluation of paranormal claims is amenable to critical thinking, it is more likely to be characterized by "axiological" approaches. The distinction between critical thinking skills and the disposition to apply them suggests a multivariate approach to the testing of the generalizability thesis, which includes variables such as attitudes and personality traits.