articleAmerican Journal of Qualitative ResearchJan 19, 2026DIAMOND OA

Critical Thinking Performance Assessment in an Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Laboratory Course: Developing a Contextual Critical Thinking Coding Manual

LDLilian DanialJKJenna KoenenRTRüdiger Tiemann

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Technical University of Munich

Indexed incrossref

Abstract

<i>Critical thinking (CT) performance assessment in authentic settings remains challenging. One reason is that the CT focus might shift depending on the context. This article describes the inductive and deductive processes of developing a contextual CT coding manual (CCTCM) and presents an exemplary analysis to demonstrate its application in assessing CT performance in an undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory course. Students’ verbal interactions during the course were used as the primary data for assessment. The CCTCM we developed comprises two components: the contextual profile of the physical chemistry laboratory and an operationalized set of CT skills. The tool enabled a contextualized analysis…

Citation impact

7
total citations
FWCI
648.68
Percentile
100%
References
36
Too recent for citation history.

Authors

3
  • LD
    Lilian DanialCorresponding

    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

  • JK
    Jenna Koenen

    Technical University of Munich

  • RT
    Rüdiger Tiemann

    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Operationalization
  • Coding (social sciences)
  • Critical thinking
  • Curriculum
  • Set (abstract data type)
  • Focus (optics)
  • Contextual design
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Quality Education
No related works found for this paper.

Funding