International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Effectiveness of Critical Thinking Skills on the Academic Performance of Elementary Level Students

Critical thinking has emerged as one of the most essential skills for students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century. This study investigates the effectiveness of critical thinking skills specifically logical reasoning, analytical skills, evaluation skills, and problem-solving skills on the academic performance of elementary level students. A descriptive survey method was employed with a sample of 1,000 students from 10 schools (5 CBSE and 5 M.P. Board) in Indore city, comprising both government and private institutions. Data were collected using a self-developed questionnaire measuring four critical thinking skills, while academic performance records were obtained from school databases. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between critical thinking skills and academic performance (r = 0.624, p < 0.01). Among the four skills, problem-solving emerged as the strongest predictor of academic achievement. Significant differences were found based on gender, type of board, and type of institution, while age showed no significant role. The study underscores the need for integrating critical thinking instruction across the elementary curriculum.