Critical Reasoning (H-SC Benchmark)

The ability to think critically and reason is central to the mission of Hampden-Sydney College. Among the goals we have for our students is for them to "develop their analytical and critical thinking…skills” and “analyze and solve both quantitative and qualitative problems.” Such skills are encouraged in a wide range of courses and in many different departments, and are among the most valuable cognitive abilities that a person can take into the world beyond the gates of the College.  The College selected six NSSE survey items that address this important educational goal.

Summary:  In the measures of critical reasoning, Hampden-Sydney students outperform their counterparts at other baccalaureate-granting arts and sciences colleges as well as from all of the NSSE-reporting schools, both as first-year students and as seniors. Moreover, we see greater gain from first-year to senior-year among the Hampden-Sydney students than in either of the other comparison groups.

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