The Development of Scientific Reasoning and Critical Thinking Abilities for Grade 10 Students Using Argument – Driven Inquiry Model with Concept Mapping

Abstract

The objectives of the research were to develop grade 10 students’ Scientific Reasoning and Critical thinking abilities using Argument – Driven Inquiry Model with Concept Mapping so that students would have average score not less than 70% of total score. The target group consisted of 22 grade 10 students from one of the schools in Chaiyaphum province. The research design was Action Research. The research instruments categorized into 3 categorized ware: 1) experimental tools, including 6 lesson plans using Argument – Driven Inquiry Model with Concept Mapping for 18 hours, 2) reflection tools, including (1) a teacher’s teaching behavior recording form (2) instruction records (3) a student interview form and end-of-spiral quizzes, and 3) assessment tools, including (1) a 24-item 2tier diagnostic test on the students’ Scientific Reasoning ability (2) a 30-item 4-choice objective test on the students’ Critical thinking ability.  The results were summarized: The students had average of Scientific Reasoning ability for 33.82 or 70.45 % of the total score, and there were 16 students or 72.72 % passed the criteria which was higher than defined criteria. And the students had average of Critical thinking ability for 22.36 or 74.54 % of the total score, and there were 17 students or 77.27 % passed the criteria which was higher than defined criteria.