Improving Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Using Guided Inquiry with Problem-Solving Process

Abstract

High-level thinking skills known as critical thinking are deemed essential for students in the contemporary era to equip them for the challenges ahead. However, current research suggests that students’ proficiency in critical thinking remains relatively insufficient. This research endeavors to explore how the application of guided inquiry combined with problem-solving techniques influences the critical thinking abilities of 11th-grade students. Carried out in a public high school situated in Jakarta, Indonesia, this quantitative study involved seventy-two students chosen as participants. Employing a quasi-experimental approach, two intact classes were enlisted and randomly assigned as either the experimental group (n=36) or the control group (n=36). Data were collected through an essay test assessing critical thinking skills and were subsequently analyzed using independent and paired sample t-tests. Results revealed a positive impact of guided inquiry supplemented with problem-solving techniques on students’ critical thinking capabilities. Consequently, it can be deduced that this instructional method effectively enhances students’ critical thinking skills. The findings recommend educators adopt guided inquiry coupled with problem-solving strategies to cultivate students’ critical thinking abilities to a satisfactory level.