Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Educational Researcher
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ennis, R. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Critical Thinking and Subject Specificity: Clarification and Needed Research

Robert H. Ennis, Professor of Philosophy of Education

Department of Educational Policy Studies, College of Education, University of Illinois, 1310 S. 6th St., Champaign, II 61820, specializes in critical thinking and philosophy of educational research

The claim that critical thinking is subject specific appears, to be of practical importance and theoretical interest. Its meaning is unclear, however, and discussions of its are often confusing and at cross purposes. In an attempt to clarify the topic, Ennis offers a number of distinctions, including a distinction among three versions of subject specificity: domain, epistemological, and conceptual subject specificity. He holds that the first two versions contain valuable insights, but that all three suffer from excessive vagueness of their basic concept (domain, field, and subject, respectively). If the proposed clarification and critique are appropriate, then a number of avenues of research—at both practical and theoretical levels—need to be pursued, some of which are outlined in this essay

Educational Researcher, Vol. 18, No. 3, 4-10 (1989)
DOI: 10.3102/0013189X018003004


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERHome page
P. Smagorinsky
The Cultural Practice of Reading and the Standardized Assessment of Reading Instruction: When Incommensurate Worlds Collide
Educational Researcher, October 1, 2009; 38(7): 522 - 527.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Discourse StudiesHome page
K. Tracy and J. Robles
Questions, questioning, and institutional practices: an introduction
Discourse Studies, April 1, 2009; 11(2): 131 - 152.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHHome page
P. C. Abrami, R. M. Bernard, E. Borokhovski, A. Wade, M. A. Surkes, R. Tamim, and D. Zhang
Instructional Interventions Affecting Critical Thinking Skills and Dispositions: A Stage 1 Meta-Analysis
Review of Educational Research, December 1, 2008; 78(4): 1102 - 1134.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Learn DisabilHome page
S. Baglieri and J. H. Knopf
Normalizing Difference in Inclusive Teaching
J Learn Disabil, December 1, 2004; 37(6): 525 - 529.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional ChildrenHome page
R. M. Allinder
Effects of Modeling on Attitudes and Perceptions of Preservice Special Education Teachers
Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, October 1, 2001; 24(4): 362 - 372.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Review of Public Personnel AdministrationHome page
J. E. Pynes
The Triumph of Techniques Over Purpose Revisited: Evaluating Police Officer Selection
Review of Public Personnel Administration, September 1, 2001; 21(3): 219 - 236.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Journal of Black StudiesHome page
F. A. Bonner II
African American Giftedness: Our Nation's Deferred Dream
Journal of Black Studies, May 1, 2000; 30(5): 643 - 663.
[PDF]


Home page
Gifted Child QuarterlyHome page
B. Z. Lando and B. H. Schneider
Intellectual Contributions and Mutual Support among Developmentally Advanced Children in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Work/Discussion Groups
Gifted Child Quarterly, April 1, 1997; 41(2): 44 - 57.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Research Studies in Music EducationHome page
E. Gifford
Editorial
Research Studies in Music Education, June 1, 1996; 6(1): 1 - 4.
[PDF]


Home page
Gifted Child QuarterlyHome page
J. A. Plucker, C. M. Callahan, and E. M. Tomchin
Wherefore Art Thou, Multiple Intelligences? Alternative Assessments for Identifying Talent in Ethnically Diverse and Low Income Students
Gifted Child Quarterly, April 1, 1996; 40(2): 81 - 91.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERHome page
K. E. Stanovich
Reconceptualizing Intelligence: Dysrationalia as an Intuition Pump
Educational Researcher, May 1, 1994; 23(4): 11 - 21.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Journal of Special EducationHome page
K. R. Harris and S. Graham
Constructivism: Principles, Paradigms, and Integration
Journal of Special Education, January 1, 1994; 28(3): 233 - 247.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Learn DisabilHome page
K. E. Stanovich
Dysrationalia: A New Specific Learning Disability
J Learn Disabil, October 1, 1993; 26(8): 501 - 515.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Learn DisabilHome page
M. M. Warner
Objectivity and Emancipation in Learning Disabilities: Holism From the Perspective of Critical Realism
J Learn Disabil, May 1, 1993; 26(5): 311 - 325.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHHome page
P. Smagorinsky and M. W. Smith
The Nature of Knowledge in Composition and Literary Understanding: The Question of Specificity
Review of Educational Research, January 1, 1992; 62(3): 279 - 305.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERHome page
R. S. PRAWAT
The Value of Ideas: The Immersion Approach to the Development of Thinking
Educational Researcher, March 1, 1991; 20(2): 3 - 30.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Written CommunicationHome page
K. HARTMAN, C. M. NEUWIRTH, S. KIESLER, L. SPROULL, C. COCHRAN, M. PALMQUIST, and D. ZUBROW
Patterns of Social Interaction and Learning to Write: Some Effects of Network Technologies
Written Communication, January 1, 1991; 8(1): 79 - 113.
[Abstract]


Home page
Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional ChildrenHome page
J. R. Yates and A. A. Ortiz
Professional Development Needs of Teachers Who Serve Exceptional Language Minorities in Today's Schools
Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, January 1, 1991; 14(1): 11 - 18.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHHome page
P. A. Alexander, D. L. Schallert, and V. C. Hare
Coming to Terms: How Researchers in Learning and Literacy Talk About Knowledge
Review of Educational Research, January 1, 1991; 61(3): 315 - 343.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Learn DisabilHome page
K. R. Harris
PARADIGMS
J Learn Disabil, December 1, 1990; 23(10): 586 - 587.
[PDF]


Home page
Gifted Child QuarterlyHome page
J. H. Borland
Postpositivist Inquiry: Implications of the "New Philosophy of Science" for the Field of the Education of the Gifted
Gifted Child Quarterly, October 1, 1990; 34(4): 161 - 167.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERHome page
J. E. McPeck
Critical Thinking and Subject Specificity: A Reply to Ennis
Educational Researcher, May 1, 1990; 19(4): 10 - 12.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHHome page
J. F. Stratman
The Emergence of Legal Composition as a Field of Inquiry: Evaluating the Prospects
Review of Educational Research, January 1, 1990; 60(2): 153 - 235.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERHome page
S. P Norris
Can We Test Validly for Critical Thinking?
Educational Researcher, December 1, 1989; 18(9): 21 - 26.
[Abstract] [PDF]



AER home page RER home page EPA home page JEB home page RRE home page