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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SECONDARY STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A CASE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Corresponding Author(s) : Tariq Javed
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 9 No. 3 (2021): May
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research study was to study the relationship between critical thinking (CT) and academic achievement among secondary school students in a district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Methodology: Correlation design was applied to study the relationship between critical thinking and academic achievement. A sample of 400 students was selected through a convenient sampling technique to collect the data. Critical thinking was measured by applying an adapted tool (Sarigoz, 2012) and students’ scores in annual examinations were taken as academic achievement (York, Gibson & Rankin, 2015). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
Main Findings: Findings of the study revealed that female students, rural school students, and science group students showed slightly higher critical thinking than male, urban, and arts group students. A markedly low positive relationship was found between critical thinking and academic achievement. The results were consistent with earlier studies having a positive relationship between these variables. There were also low and markedly low relationships found between constructs of critical thinking and academic achievement. Some results of this study were inconsistent with the earlier research based on the context of the students. The study revealed that there is a discrepancy in aligning critical thinking with academic achievement.
Application of this study: The findings of the study help understand the relationship between critical thinking and academic achievement at the secondary level. It will surely assist the teachers in designing their classroom activities and modifications in teaching methodologies. It will boost the teachers to enhance the critical thinking of secondary school students.
Novelty/Originality of this study: The study is original as not a single research study determined the relationship between critical thinking and academic achievement of secondary school students in the region of district Ghizar in Gilgit-Baltistan.
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- Nursa’adah, E., Sari, D., & Affifah, I. (2021). Domain-specific critical thinking skills: Designing and analysis the instrument test on thermochemistry. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1731(1), 012025. IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1731/1/012025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1731/1/012025
- Akbarilakeh, M., Naderi, A., & Azizollah, A. (2018). Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence Skills and Relationship with Students’ Academic Achievement. Prensa Med Argent. https://doi.org/10.4172/0032-745X.1000280 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/0032-745X.1000280
- Best, J. W., & Kahn, J. V. (2006). Research in Education (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson
- Bhat, M. H. (2013). Academic achievement of secondary school students in relation to self-concept and parental encouragement. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 4(6), 738- 741.
- Cui, L., Zhu, Y., Qu, J., Tie, L., Wang, Z., & Qu, B. (2021). Psychometric properties of the critical thinking disposition assessment test amongst medical students in China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Educatio, 21(10), 01-08. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02437-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02437-2
- Dilley, A., Kaufman, J. C., Kennedy, C., & Plucker, J. A. (2015). Without we know about critical thinking: 4 Cs research series. Retrieved September 19, 2019, from https://www.csai-online.org/resources/withat-we-know-about-critical-thinking-4cs-research-series
- Ennis, R. (2011). Critical thinking: Reflection and perspective Part II. Inquiry: Critical thinking across the Disciplines, 26(2), 5-19. https://doi.org/10.5840/inquiryctnews201126215 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/inquiryctnews201126215
- Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill
- Fuad, N. M., Zubaidah, S., Mahanal, S., & Suarsini, E. (2017). Improving junior high schools’ critical thinking skills based on test three different models of learning. International Journal of Instruction, 10(1), 101-116. https://doi.org/10.12973/iji.2017.1017a DOI: https://doi.org/10.12973/iji.2017.1017a
- Halpern, D. F. (2014). Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment. Austria: Schuhfried Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzUoP_pmwy1gdEpCR05PeW9qUzA/view
- Hasinger, E. (2020). Cornell critical thinking test guide. Retrieved August 2020, from https://www.tests.com/ Cornell-Critical-Thinking-Testing
- Hassan, K, E., & Madhum, G. (2007). Validating Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Higher Education, 54, 361–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-006-9002-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-006-9002-z
- Kanbay, Y., Islk, Aslan, O., Elif, I., & Kilic, N. (2017). Problem solving and critical thinking skills of undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Higher Education and Science, 3(3), 244-254.
- Letseka, M., & Zireva, D. (2013). Obstacles to the development of critical thinking dispositions among the student teachers at Mongster Teachers’ College, Zimbabwe. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(6), 671-680.
- Liang, W., & Fung, D. (2021). Fostering Critical Thinking in English as a Second Lanauge Classrooms: Challenges and Opportunitie. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100769 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100769
- Nauman, S. (2017). Lack of critical thinking skills leading to research crisis in developing countries: A case of Pakistan, Learned Publ, 30(3), 233–236. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1091
- Okasha, M. A. H. (2021). The Effect of Critical Thinking Techniques for improving EFL Reading Skills. Journal of Research in Curriculum, In struction and Educational Technology, 7(1), 141-157. https://doi.org/10.21608/jrciet.2021.134639 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/jrciet.2021.134639
- O'Riordan T, Millard, D, E, & Schulz, J. (2020). Is critical thinking happening? Testing content analysis schemes applied to MOOC discussion forums. Comput Appl Eng Educ, 1(20). https://doi.org/10.10 02/cae.22314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22314
- Planning Commission Government of Pakistan. (2007). Pakistan in 21st Century: Vision 2030. Retrieved December 01, 2019, from http://www.planningcommission.gov.pk
- Possin, K. (2014). Critique of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test: The more you know, the lower your score. Informal Logic, 34(4), 393-416. https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v34i4.4141 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v34i4.4141
- Ramos, J. L., & Dolipas, B. B., & Villamor, B. (2013). Higher order thinking skills and academic performance in physics of college students: A regression analysis. International journal of innovative interdisciplinary research, 4(10), 48-60.
- Samar, R. G., & Basiroo, S. R. (2016). Critical Thinking Assessment: Specifying The Contents Tipping the Balance in Favor of A Discipline-Specific Approach in EFL Learning Context. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 6(8), 51-61.
- Sarigoz, O. (2012). Assessment of the high school students’ critical thinking skills. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Science, 46, 5315 – 5319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.430 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.430
- Sellars, M., Fakirmohammad, R., Bui, L., Fishetti, J., Niyozov, S., Reynolds, R., & Ali, N. (2018). Conversations on critical thinking: Can critical thinking find the way forward as the skill set and mindset of the century? Education Sciences, 8(4), 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8040205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8040205
- Sirin, S, R. (2005). Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analytic Review of Research. Review of Educational Research, 75(3), 417–453. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543075003417 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543075003417
- Shaw, A., Liu, O. L., Gu, L., Kardonova, E., Chirikov, I., Li, G., ... & Loyalka, P. (2020). Thinking critically about critical thinking: validating the Russian HEIghten® critical thinking assessment. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1933-1948. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1672640 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1672640
- Sumarni, W., Sudarti, K. I., & Widiarti, N. (2018). IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 349 012066. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/349/1/012066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/349/1/012066
- Thalib, M., Corebima, A. D., & Ghofur, A. (2017). Comparison on Critical Thinking Skill and Cognitive Learning Outcome among Students of X Grade with High and Low Academic Ability through Reading Questioning Answering (RQA) Strategy. Journal of Science Education, 5(1), 26–31.
- York, T. T., Gibson, C., & Rankin, S. Defining and measuring academic success. Practical assessment, research and evaluation, 20(5).
- Yousufi, S., & Mohammadi, M. (2016). Critical thinking and reading comprehension among postgraduate students: The case of gender and language proficiency level. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(4), 802-807. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0704.23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0704.23
- Zivkovica, S. (2016). A Model of Critical Thinking as an Important Attribute for Success in the 21st Century. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 232, 102 – 108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.034
References
Nursa’adah, E., Sari, D., & Affifah, I. (2021). Domain-specific critical thinking skills: Designing and analysis the instrument test on thermochemistry. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1731(1), 012025. IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1731/1/012025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1731/1/012025
Akbarilakeh, M., Naderi, A., & Azizollah, A. (2018). Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence Skills and Relationship with Students’ Academic Achievement. Prensa Med Argent. https://doi.org/10.4172/0032-745X.1000280 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/0032-745X.1000280
Best, J. W., & Kahn, J. V. (2006). Research in Education (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson
Bhat, M. H. (2013). Academic achievement of secondary school students in relation to self-concept and parental encouragement. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 4(6), 738- 741.
Cui, L., Zhu, Y., Qu, J., Tie, L., Wang, Z., & Qu, B. (2021). Psychometric properties of the critical thinking disposition assessment test amongst medical students in China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Educatio, 21(10), 01-08. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02437-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02437-2
Dilley, A., Kaufman, J. C., Kennedy, C., & Plucker, J. A. (2015). Without we know about critical thinking: 4 Cs research series. Retrieved September 19, 2019, from https://www.csai-online.org/resources/withat-we-know-about-critical-thinking-4cs-research-series
Ennis, R. (2011). Critical thinking: Reflection and perspective Part II. Inquiry: Critical thinking across the Disciplines, 26(2), 5-19. https://doi.org/10.5840/inquiryctnews201126215 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/inquiryctnews201126215
Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill
Fuad, N. M., Zubaidah, S., Mahanal, S., & Suarsini, E. (2017). Improving junior high schools’ critical thinking skills based on test three different models of learning. International Journal of Instruction, 10(1), 101-116. https://doi.org/10.12973/iji.2017.1017a DOI: https://doi.org/10.12973/iji.2017.1017a
Halpern, D. F. (2014). Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment. Austria: Schuhfried Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzUoP_pmwy1gdEpCR05PeW9qUzA/view
Hasinger, E. (2020). Cornell critical thinking test guide. Retrieved August 2020, from https://www.tests.com/ Cornell-Critical-Thinking-Testing
Hassan, K, E., & Madhum, G. (2007). Validating Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Higher Education, 54, 361–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-006-9002-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-006-9002-z
Kanbay, Y., Islk, Aslan, O., Elif, I., & Kilic, N. (2017). Problem solving and critical thinking skills of undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Higher Education and Science, 3(3), 244-254.
Letseka, M., & Zireva, D. (2013). Obstacles to the development of critical thinking dispositions among the student teachers at Mongster Teachers’ College, Zimbabwe. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(6), 671-680.
Liang, W., & Fung, D. (2021). Fostering Critical Thinking in English as a Second Lanauge Classrooms: Challenges and Opportunitie. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100769 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100769
Nauman, S. (2017). Lack of critical thinking skills leading to research crisis in developing countries: A case of Pakistan, Learned Publ, 30(3), 233–236. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1091
Okasha, M. A. H. (2021). The Effect of Critical Thinking Techniques for improving EFL Reading Skills. Journal of Research in Curriculum, In struction and Educational Technology, 7(1), 141-157. https://doi.org/10.21608/jrciet.2021.134639 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/jrciet.2021.134639
O'Riordan T, Millard, D, E, & Schulz, J. (2020). Is critical thinking happening? Testing content analysis schemes applied to MOOC discussion forums. Comput Appl Eng Educ, 1(20). https://doi.org/10.10 02/cae.22314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22314
Planning Commission Government of Pakistan. (2007). Pakistan in 21st Century: Vision 2030. Retrieved December 01, 2019, from http://www.planningcommission.gov.pk
Possin, K. (2014). Critique of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Test: The more you know, the lower your score. Informal Logic, 34(4), 393-416. https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v34i4.4141 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v34i4.4141
Ramos, J. L., & Dolipas, B. B., & Villamor, B. (2013). Higher order thinking skills and academic performance in physics of college students: A regression analysis. International journal of innovative interdisciplinary research, 4(10), 48-60.
Samar, R. G., & Basiroo, S. R. (2016). Critical Thinking Assessment: Specifying The Contents Tipping the Balance in Favor of A Discipline-Specific Approach in EFL Learning Context. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 6(8), 51-61.
Sarigoz, O. (2012). Assessment of the high school students’ critical thinking skills. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Science, 46, 5315 – 5319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.430 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.430
Sellars, M., Fakirmohammad, R., Bui, L., Fishetti, J., Niyozov, S., Reynolds, R., & Ali, N. (2018). Conversations on critical thinking: Can critical thinking find the way forward as the skill set and mindset of the century? Education Sciences, 8(4), 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8040205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8040205
Sirin, S, R. (2005). Socioeconomic Status and Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analytic Review of Research. Review of Educational Research, 75(3), 417–453. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543075003417 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543075003417
Shaw, A., Liu, O. L., Gu, L., Kardonova, E., Chirikov, I., Li, G., ... & Loyalka, P. (2020). Thinking critically about critical thinking: validating the Russian HEIghten® critical thinking assessment. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1933-1948. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1672640 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1672640
Sumarni, W., Sudarti, K. I., & Widiarti, N. (2018). IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 349 012066. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/349/1/012066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/349/1/012066
Thalib, M., Corebima, A. D., & Ghofur, A. (2017). Comparison on Critical Thinking Skill and Cognitive Learning Outcome among Students of X Grade with High and Low Academic Ability through Reading Questioning Answering (RQA) Strategy. Journal of Science Education, 5(1), 26–31.
York, T. T., Gibson, C., & Rankin, S. Defining and measuring academic success. Practical assessment, research and evaluation, 20(5).
Yousufi, S., & Mohammadi, M. (2016). Critical thinking and reading comprehension among postgraduate students: The case of gender and language proficiency level. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(4), 802-807. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0704.23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0704.23
Zivkovica, S. (2016). A Model of Critical Thinking as an Important Attribute for Success in the 21st Century. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 232, 102 – 108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.034