Perspectives on the Validity of the Thinking Styles Inventories

Abstract

The Thinking Styles Inventories (TSI) are questionnaires for assessing individual preferences in constructing knowledge. This paper identifies several problems concerning their validity, which range from an inadequate use of factor analysis, to missing information on the measurement model, to findings indicating a low discrimination between the thinking style scales. Against this background, two studies are conducted providing detailed insights into the measurement model of the TSI in German-speaking samples (Study I: 287 apprentices; Study II: 389 students). Although results indicate a high degree of reliability according to popular statistical rules, they confirm problems with the discriminant validity and criterion validity regarding achievement. The Thinking Styles Inventories should as a result be used with caution.

The Interface Function of Thinking Styles between Personality and Intelligence

“…Nevertheless, the fact that no indirect effects of the four types of styles on the relationships between personality and intelligence could be found achieves important conclusions. Considering the results of Berding et al (2018) or Berding et al (2016), who had difficulties replicating the structure of styles postulated within the theory of mental self-government (Sternberg, 1997) or within the threefold model of intellectual styles (Zhang & Sternberg, 2005), further research to clarify the "style construct" could support a broader understanding of the differences in individual preferences when dealing with tasks. Nevertheless, the results of this study indicate that styles represent a stand-alone learning prerequisite which leads to the implication that preferences in dealing with tasks are independent from specific levels of cognivite abilities and personality traits.…”

“…The Thinking Styles Inventory for German-speaking samples (TSI-GER) was used for the measurement of the thinking styles (Berding et al, 2016). This consists of 61 items assessing the 13 thinking styles proposed in Sternberg's theory of mental self-government (1997).…”

“…Although the study by Berding et al (2016) was able to provide the TSI-R2 for German-speaking samples with a stable factor structure, the empirical data provided in international studies concerning the validity and reliability of the TSI-R2 remain contradictory (see Berding et al (2016) for further details). Against this background, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was deployed to examine whether the measurement model of the TSI-GER adequately describes the thinking styles in this study sample.…”

“…Studies investigating the factor structure of the Thinking Styles Inventories (TSI, TSI-R, TSI-R2;Sternberg, Wagner, & Zhang, 2007) could not replicate the assumed five factors. Also, the existing studies show inconsistent results concerning the assumed factor structure of the threefold model of intellectual styles proposed byZhang and Sternberg (2005) (seeBerding, Masemann, Rebmann, and Paechter (2016) for more). Regarding this issue,Berding et al (…”

Identifikation von Studierendenprofilen für didaktische Konzepte in der Hochschullehre

“…KRIEGER, 2018). Die Erfassung der Lern-und Denkstile erfolgte mittels des Thinking Styles Inventory für deutschsprachige Stichproben (TSI-GER) von Berding et al (2016). Der Fragebogen umfasst 61 Aussagen, zu denen die Teilnehmenden ihre Zustimmung auf einer Skala von 1 "gar nicht" bis 7 "bestens" beurteilen.…”