The Critical and Analytical Thinking Skills of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) Students in Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The critical and analytical thinking skills are essential skills a person must possess. Critical thinking is about making reasonable judgments that are needed for decision-making. On the other hand, analytical thinking is used to evaluate simple or complex problems in everyday life. Due to the significance of these two skills the researcher decided to conduct a study about the critical and analytical thinking skills of STEM students in CVLIS. The study identified the level of the respondents' critical thinking skills in terms of rational thinking, criticizing and argumentation, while it identified their analytical thinking skills in terms of visual thinking, logical thinking and analysis.

METHODS

From 63 STEM students, the researcher randomly selected 55 respondents. Descriptive-correlational method was employed with the test as its primary tool in data gathering. Statistical tools applied to research data are frequency/ percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's r using SPSS 23. The data gathering tools used by the researcher were adapted test questionnaires from Cornell Critical Thinking Test, NSE Analytical Test and Test of Reasoning (Non-verbal).

RESULTS

The respondents' level of critical thinking in terms of rational thinking was outstanding, for criticizing it was satisfactory and in argumentation it was fairly satisfactory. Generally the respondents' level of critical thinking was satisfactory. Their level of the analytical thinking skills in terms of visual thinking was satisfactory and in logical and analytical thinking was fairly satisfactory. Overall, the level of analytical thinking skills of the respondents was fairly satisfactory. More so, there was a significant relationship between critical and analytical thinking skills of the respondents. The program of activities was proposed by the researcher to enhance the critical and analytical thinking skill of the students.

DISCUSSIONS

The outcome of the study shows that the critical and analytical thinking skills of STEM students are not fully established. This is because of the minimal exposure of STEM students when it comes to activities relating to the use of their critical and analytical thinking. Moreover, the result of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between the critical and analytical thinking skills, therefore in order to attain the higher level of the critical and analytical thinking skills, both of the said skills should be regularly practiced and enhanced.