In this study, we investigated-secondary school students’ perceptions of their
constructivist learning environment in Liberal Studies, and whether their perceptions were
related to their critical thinking ability. A convenience sample of Secondary Three students
(N = 967) studying Liberal Studies in Hong Kong participated in this research by completing
a self-administered questionnaire which included the Constructivist Learning
Environment Survey (CLES), Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level X, and demographic
information on age and gender. Students perceived their learning environment to be
moderately constructivist in nature. Both age and school banding differences were identified
in that younger students and students in band 1 schools tended to perceive a higher
degree of constructivist characteristics in their learning environment. Multiple regression
analyses indicated that three of the five scales of CLES were predictors of critical thinking
ability. Shared Control was the strongest predictor and negatively associated with critical
thinking ability, while Personal Relevance and Critical Voice were positively related to
critical thinking ability. Findings of the study are discussed with reference to developing
students’ critical thinking ability in Liberal Studies classrooms.