The Effect of Problem-Solving Training to Improve Student’s Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Skills: Racked Analysis

Abstract

Critical thinking and decision-making skills are essential for non-cognitive capabilities for students in the era of the industrial revolution. This is pilot study designed to measure the effect of problem-solving training in school counseling programs to improving students' critical thinking and decision-making skills. The one group pre-post test experimental design applied in this study. This study involved 35 second-grade students of SMA Negeri 4 Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia. Student's critical thinking and decision-making skills are measured by 13 items of critical thinking and decision-making scales. The Racked analysis by Rasch Model is conducted to seek the treatment effects for 6-times (55 minutes) counseling session on students' critical thinking and decision-making skills. The results demonstrated that students' critical thinking and decision-making skills is increase in each of the 13 scales used. The effect was consistent for a man and woman participants. This findings show that problem-solving training in counseling programs affects students' critical thinking and decision-making skills.