Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills and Self-Efficacy in Mathematical Problem Solving among Grade VII Students on Linear Equations in One Variable at Sriwarin School Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to describe the critical thinking skills, self-efficacy, and mathematical problem-solving ability of Grade VII-1 students at Sriwarin School, Thailand, in solving linear equations in one variable. This study employed a descriptive quantitative approach involving 30 students selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments consisted of critical thinking and mathematical problem-solving tests, a Likert-scale self-efficacy questionnaire, interviews, and observation sheets. The results showed that the three variables had the same descriptive distribution: 8 students (26.7%) were categorized as high, 14 students (46.7%) as moderate, and 8 students (26.7%) as low. The class average scores were 54.8 for critical thinking skills, 42.7 for self-efficacy, and 63.2 for mathematical problem-solving ability, all of which were categorized as moderate. These findings indicate that the students' critical thinking skills, self-efficacy, and mathematical problem-solving ability generally showed moderate profiles, with similar category distributions across the three variables. The study provides a descriptive overview of students' critical thinking, self-efficacy, and mathematical problem-solving profiles in learning linear equations in one variable.