[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Developing and Validating a Measurement of Systems Thinking (STMI)

Cabrera L, Sokolow J, Cabrera D, Journal of Systems Thinking 3(1):1-43, 2023

## Abstract

There are a wide variety of psychographic and edumetric tests but none capture the totality of what it means to be a systems thinker. At this time systems thinking not only has popularity but also promises to address the complex problems we face today. It is therefore necessary to identify how to measure systems thinking on a continuum of mastery. The advent of DSRP Theory makes the variables that need to be measured explicit. We present herein a brief review of psychographic and edumetric advances in cognition, metacognition, and systems thinking, and then detail the development and validation of the Systems Thinking and Metacognition Inventory (STMI).

## What they found (results)

Competence against confidence by pattern: distinctions 68.5/86.5, systems 58.5/76.5, relationships 72/85, perspectives 57/83.5. Perspectives has both the lowest competence and by far the largest gap at 26.5 points.

## Response

Published in the Handbook of Systems Thinking (Cabrera, Cabrera & Midgley, eds., 2023), a volume built on the premise that systems thinking now has a universal theory—DSRP-484. Its contents were selected on that basis by its editorial team in concert with a team of advisors.

[Read the paper](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.0000042)