ABSTRACT
Critical thinking is a process by which an individual objectively conceptualizes and analyzes a problem to form a judgment. It allows people to assess certain situations based on factual information. Meanwhile, critical thinking disposition is the quality of mind that aids in evaluating problems and making decisions using critical thinking. It develops a powerful mindset that helps with improving reading comprehension and problem-solving skills. The study aimed to determine the mediating effect of critical thinking disposition on the link between reading comprehension and problem-solving skills of senior high school students in Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School. The study used 306 senior high school students, who were drawn through the Raosoft Online Sampling Calculator. The descriptive quantitative method using a correlational approach was utilized. The weighted mean, composite mean, mean percentage score, Pearson’s r and regression analysis were the tools used in its statistical treatment. The results disclosed that the senior high school student respondents have high critical thinking dispositions and good problem-solving skills. On the other hand, the students’ level of reading comprehension was found to be average. As to the test for significant relationships, the critical thinking dispositions were found to have significant relationships with problem-solving skills and reading comprehension, while problem-solving skills were found to have no significant relationship with reading comprehension.
Keywords: Critical Thinking disposition, Problem Solving Skills, Reading Comprehension, Senior High School Students
Introduction
Critical thinking is a process by which an individual objectively conceptualizes and analyzes a problem to form a judgment. It allows people to assess certain situations based on factual information. Meanwhile, critical thinking disposition is the quality of mind that aids in evaluating problems and making decisions using critical thinking. It develops a powerful mindset that helps with improving reading comprehension and problem-solving skills.
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and give meaning to what has been read. Problem-solving skills, however, are an individual’s capacity to determine problems and resolve them by providing effective solutions. Undeniably, these skills and abilities are influenced by one’s internal motivation, which serves as a determinant of a specific outcome.
Through the years, problems in students’ reading comprehension have been a global concern. Despite heavy investment in education systems in certain countries, the results of the 2018 Programme for International Assessment (PISA) showed the necessity of improving youth reading skills worldwide. As reported by "The Economist," over ten million students represented by PISA in 2018 were not able to complete even the most basic reading tasks, and these were 15-year-olds living in the 79 high- and middle-income countries that participated in the test.
As revealed by the 2018 PISA results, reading comprehension also poses a threat to students’ outcomes, as revealed by the lowest reading comprehension score among seventy-nine participating countries and economies. Moreover, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, they are not expecting high marks for the Philippines, noting the results of the National Achievement Test, which show low proficiency levels in science, math, and English. Hence, it is crucial to improve this specific skill by first assessing the variables that affect learners’ low performance in reading comprehension. It plays an important role in ensuring that they are equipped with the proper knowledge and understanding of their courses (San Juan, 2019).
Furthermore, problem-solving skills are important not only in schools but also in facing real-life challenges. In the workplace, employers prefer problem-solvers as they demonstrate a high range of competencies. This is a universal skill that applies to any situation. But nonetheless, many of the students lack this ability because of internal factors that hinder them from thinking critically and solving problems effectively.
This research focuses on the mediating effect of critical thinking disposition on reading comprehension and problem-solving skills of senior high school students in Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School. This study also aims to demonstrate that through learners’ critical thinking disposition, they will be able to improve the necessary skills they need to deepen their learning experiences inside the academic institution and widen their horizons to overcome real-life challenges.
The above realities can be reflected in an actual classroom situation. When learners’ internal driving force is absent, there is a high chance that it will affect their understanding of concepts in various disciplines. Moreover, they will fail to solve even the simplest problems effectively because their ability to think critically is being blocked by several factors within their minds. Thus, this existing condition drove the researcher to conduct a study on how to address the problem in the senior high school students of Camp Vicente Lim Integrated School.
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