Using the structural equation modeling in testing social work measurements: a critical thinking skills measure for graduate students as a model

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is considered as a recent advanced statistical method used in psychological, social and educational research. Structural Equation Modeling is used to test models and measurement tools, through quantitative indicators to verify the Goodness of Fit between the theoretical model and the data obtained through the study sample. The current study aimed to determine the possibility of using the structural equation modeling method in testing measurement and scales in social work, through the application on the critical thinking skills scale among graduate students in social work.
The main hypothesis of this study is: There is a statistical Goodness Of fit between the theoretical model of critical thinking skills of graduate students in social work and the data obtained from the study sample. The study was applied to a sample of 306 male and female students from the faculties of social work at the universities of Helwan, Fayoum, Aswan, Assiut, and Beni Suef.
The results showed that the Goodness Of Fit was achieved between the theoretical model of critical thinking skills and the data collected from the study sample. Also results showed that the indicators Goodness of Fit the model were ideal, as THE Indicators of Goodness of Fit Index CFI = 0.907, the Tucker Lewis Index TLI = 0.9, the Increasing Fit y index IFI = 0.908 (greater than 0.9) and RMSEA index value = 0.08 (less than or equal to 0.08).