Effect of student critical and analytical thinking skills on students academic achievement

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of critical and analytical thinking skills on student achievement. A quasi-experimental research design with intact classes assigned to the groups was adopted. Tivo research questions and two hypotheses guided the study The population was all the 100 level students comprising 343 students from the Faculty of Education, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufid Alike Ikwo (AE FUNAI) 2018/2019 academic year 72 students (30 female and 42 male students) were sampled using simple random technique. The study used a Philosophy of Education Achievement Test (PEAT) developed by the researchers which was initially shared to the students at the beginning and again after six weeks of the completion of six content areas. The instrument was subjected to face validation by two experts from Measurement and Evaluation. A test-retest reliability index of 0.73 was gotten using Pearson Product Moment correlation statistics. Tivo hypotheses were raised and pre-test- post-test quasi experimental design was used to test the two hypotheses. Participants in treatment group had the highest adjusted mean of (17.39) and control (14.19). There was significant main effect of treatment on students' achievement (F =65.63, The study found out that student possession of critical and analytical thinking skills enhance achievement in the university education. The study recommended among other things that school management should frequently organize training for lecturers on developing students' critical and analytical thinking skills.