Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between thinking styles, critical thinking, and creativity among students in Semnan University of Medical Sciences in the academic year of 2015-2016.For this purpose, 214 samples (92males and 122 females) were selected among students by using random sampling method. This study is descriptive and correlational. To collect data, California Critical Thinking Questionnaire and Abedi’s Creativity Questionnaire were used. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. To analyze data, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used. The mean difference between male and female subjects was examined according to each variables of thinking style, variables of critical thinking and creativity using t-test for independent groups. The results showed that thinking styles (legislative, judicial, liberal, general, internal) and critical thinking (deduction, interpretation and induction) have significant positive correlation with creativity and thinking styles (uni-polar, partial, conservative) have significant negative correlation with creativity. In addition, executive thinking style and critical thinking (evaluation of logical reasoning) have non-significant positive relationship with creativity and legislative,  executive, judicial, general, anarchic, and liberal thinking styles have significant and positive correlation with critical thinking (identification of hypotheses).Additionally, results showed that the mean scores of girl and boy subjects are different significantly in thinking styles and critical thinking at 0.05 level and mean scores of girl and boy subjects are not different significantly in variables of creativity, thinking styles (executive, judicial, liberal, uni-polar, oligarchy and hierarchical) and critical thinking(inference, evaluation, logical reasoning. Based on the results of this study, paying attention to style of thinking, critical thinking, and creativity is sensible and important. Creating and fostering them can pave the way for educational system development and consequently the development of society.