The Relationship between Secondary School Students' Reflective Thinking Tendencies towards Problem Solving and Perceptions of Problem Solving Skills

Abstract

The aim of this research is to reveal the relationship between secondary school students' reflective thinking tendencies towards problem solving and perceptions of problem solving skills. The research was designed in correlational survey model and was conducted with 350 students in a secondary school affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Van province. "Perceptions Scale of Problem Solving Skills for Secondary School Students" and "Reflective Thinking Skill Scale for Problem Solving" were used as data collection tools in this research. Descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA, Pearson Product Moments Correlation Coefficient and stepwise regression analysis were used in data analysis. As a result of the research, it was found that secondary school students' perceptions of problem solving skills are at moderate level and their reflective thinking tendencies towards problem solving are at high level. While there is no significant difference in the secondary school students' perceptions of problem solving skills according to gender; it was concluded that female students' reflective thinking tendencies towards problem solving are higher than male students. It was determined that secondary school students' perceptions of problem solving skills and reflective thinking tendencies towards problem solving do not show significant difference according to the grade level. In addition, it was found that there is a moderate, positive and significant relationship between their perceptions of problem solving skills and reflective thinking tendencies towards problem solving, and their reflective thinking tendencies towards problem solving explained 28.9% of the variance in students' perceptions of problem solving skills.