The relationship between critical thinking and problem solving: A meta-analysis with correlational studies

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship (direction and magnitude) between critical thinking and problem solving by combining the results of the studies carried out between 01.01.2015-30.11.2020 via meta-analysis. In this study, which is a meta-analysis study, PRISMA guidelines proposed by Moher et al. (2009) were followed. The studies obtained after searching the relevant literature through some electronic databases using search patterns were reviewed by two researchers in terms of inclusion criteria and 43 studies were included. Since more than one data were shared in some of these studies, meta-analysis was carried out with 49 data. The mean effect size of the relationship between critical thinking and problem solving was 0.483 under random effects model which indicated that there was a medium relationship between critical thinking and problem solving. This effect size did not differ according to sub-groups of region, critical thinking type, level of schooling, discipline and publication type. The results obtained in this study are confirmed by theoretical background regarding critical thinking and problem solving and previous studies.

Keywords

• Critical thinking
• problem solving
• meta-analysis
• correlation
• higher-order thinking skills

Eleştirel düşünme ile problem çözme arasındaki ilişki: Korelasyonel çalışmalar ile bir meta-analiz

Abstract

Bu meta-analiz çalışmasının amacı 01.01.2015-30.11.2020 tarihleri arasında yapılmış çalışmaların sonuçlarını birleştirerek, eleştirel düşünme ile problem çözme arasındaki ilişkiyi (yön ve büyüklük) araştırmaktır. Arama terimlerini kullanarak bazı elektronik veritabanları aracılığıyla ilgili literatürün araştırılmasının ardından elde edilen çalışmalar dahil edilme ölçütleri açısından iki farklı araştırmacı tarafından incelenmiş ve analize 43 çalışma dahil edilmiştir. Bu çalışmaların bazılarında birden fazla veri paylaşıldığı için, meta-analiz 49 veri ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Eleştirel düşünme ve problem çözme arasındaki ilişkinin etki büyüklüğü 0.483 olarak bulunmuştur ve bu değer eleştirel düşünme ile problem çözme arasında orta düzeyde bir ilişkinin olduğunu göstermektedir. Elde edilen bu etki büyüklüğü çalışmanın yapıldığı bölge, eleştirel düşünme türü, sınıf düzeyi, alan ve yayın türü alt gruplarına göre farklılaşmamaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında elde edilen sonuçlar, eleştirel düşünme ve problem çözmeye ilişkin teorik alt yapıyla ve geçmiş çalışmaların sonuçlarıyla örtüşmektedir.

Keywords

• Eleştirel düşünme
• problem çözme
• meta-analiz
• korelasyon
• üst düzey düşünme becerileri

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