A Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Analysis Thinking Among Chiang Rai Small School Students

Abstract

The research aimed to study components of analytical thinking of small schools in Chiang Rai province. The data was collected from sample groups which were studying in primary 1-3 at small schools under Chiangrai Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 with 151 students in total. The method used was multistage sampling, stratified sampling and voluntary sampling. The instrument used was 25 questions of analytical thinking assessment for lower primary students with a range between 0.55-0.87. Reliability of the assessment was 0.96. A pre-made software package was used for data analysis to determine the mean and standard deviation and create a model for analytical thinking components of elementary students in small Chiangrai schools with LISREL program. The findings: 1) There were 5 analytical thinking components of small school elementary students in Chiangrai. The components are classification, categories, relations, reasons and application. 2) The statistical results of the confirmatory factor analysis of small school elementary students in Chiangrai are c²=  0.61  , P =  0.66  , df= 3  , GFI= 1.00 , AGFI= 0.98  , RMR=0.018. These results proved that the model is consistent with empirical evidence. The model consists of 5 variables with factor loading of a range from 0.79 to 0.97 and a significant level of 0.1. The most significant variable was reasons.