Student Self-Identity as a Critical Thinker

Abstract

During the past decade, critical thinking has received increasing recognition in the marketing education literature. However, much of the extant literature emphasizes techniques tied to implementing critical thinking approaches, while questions exist regarding the processes by which students are influenced through participation in critical thinking pedagogies. This study merges attitudes, norms, and self-identity literature as a means of addressing the question of how students come to view themselves as critical thinkers. Specifically, the authors hypothesize that attitude strength should moderate the influence of attitudes on normative beliefs. Normative beliefs, in turn, are posited to mediate the influence of the Attitude × Attitude Strength interaction on student self-identity as a critical thinker. Thus, students with strong and positive attitudes regarding critical thinking will have strong normative beliefs associated with the skill, and these beliefs, in turn, will affect self-identity as a critical thinker. Results, based on a sample of students participating in critical thinking—oriented classes, support these hypotheses. Findings hold implications for academics and future researchers attempting to understand how to effectively leverage critical thinking pedagogies in marketing classes.