A preliminary investigation into critical thinking of in-service and pre-service middle school chemistry teachers in Shaanxi province of China

First, the participators in this study have average level in the CCTDI test but lower level in the CCTST, which strongly urges us to recognize that the actuality of critical thinking development of the in-service and pre-service teachers’ in Shaanxi province in the China is not optimal.

Second, we can see that there are no differences between in-service and pre-service teachers in critical thinking dispositions but there are significant differences in critical thinking skills.

Third, pre-service teacher performed better than the in-service teacher toward critical thinking both on CCTST and CCTDI challenge that high schools should to reform their teaching setting or even curriculum setting.

As the study was a convenience sampling and a preliminary study, the conclusion has its limitation. The further study is needed be continuous.