Role of Critical Thinking Skills in Student Social Problem Solving
Peran Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis dalam Pemecahan Masalah Sosial oleh Siswa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21070/ijemd.v20i4.947Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Social Problem Solving, English Language Students, Higher Education, Cognitive SkillsAbstract
General Background: Critical thinking has been widely recognized as a fundamental cognitive ability that enhances individuals’ capacity to adapt, evaluate, and make rational decisions in complex social contexts. Specific Background: Within higher education, students often encounter diverse social challenges that require effective problem-solving strategies, yet little research has explicitly examined the link between critical thinking and social problem solving. Knowledge Gap: Despite the acknowledged importance of critical thinking, limited empirical studies have investigated its predictive role in students’ ability to resolve social problems, particularly in non-Western academic contexts. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the subscales of critical thinking and the social problem-solving ability of English language students at the University of Halabja. Results: Using a descriptive-correlational design with 179 participants, findings indicated a significant positive correlation between critical thinking components and problem-solving skills, with analysis, assessment, and inductive reasoning emerging as strong predictors, collectively explaining 47% of the variance. Novelty: The study highlights the predictive power of specific critical thinking subskills, offering new insights into how cognitive processes underpin social problem-solving competence. Implications: The findings suggest that integrating critical thinking instruction into higher education curricula may enhance students’ resilience and adaptability in addressing social challenges.
Highlight :
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Critical thinking has a positive correlation with student problem solving ability.
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Subscales like analysis, assessment, and inductive reasoning are strong predictors.
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Results highlight the importance of fostering critical thinking in higher education.
Keywords : Critical Thinking, Social Problem Solving, English Language Students, Higher Education, Cognitive Skills
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