Development of a Valid and Reliable Test Instrument to Measure the Critical Thinking Ability of Medical Students in Papua

Abstract

This research aims to develop a valid and reliable test instrument to measure the critical thinking abilities of medical students in Papua, especially those living in Papua, which is one of the 3T (disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost) regions in Indonesia, where health challenges and needs require in-depth critical thinking. It is important to have appropriate evaluation tools. The test instrument development method involved a series of steps, including literature analysis, expert consultation, and testing. Data collected from medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Cendrawasih University, Papua, were used to test the validity and reliability of the instrument. The results show that the developed test instrument has good validity and reliability. In addition, this instrument also showed high internal consistency, confirming its reliability in measuring the critical thinking abilities of medical students in Papua. These findings provide an important contribution to understanding and improving the critical thinking skills of medical students in Papua, as well as providing a basis for developing a more effective curriculum in supporting the development of these skills.