Factors Affecting Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills in the 21st Century of Undergraduate Student’s Faculty of Education, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University

Abstract

          This survey research study aimed to: 1) study the level of critical thinking and problem solving skills in the 21^st century of undergraduate student’s Faculty of Education, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University, 2) compare the level of critical thinking and problem solving skills in the 21^st century classified by personal factors, 3) to study the factors affecting the critical thinking and problem solving skills in the 21^st century. The sample were 212 students from the 1^st year to the 5^th year during the academic year 2022 in Mathematics Major, Faculty of Education, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University were multi-stage sampling to participate in the research. We collected data using questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, multiple correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis.

           The results showed that: 1) critical thinking and problem solving skills in the 21^st century of students were at a high level . 2) The comparison of critical thinking and problem solving skills in the 21^st century of undergraduate student’s Faculty of Education, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University classified by personal factors; by sex was not significant differences at the .05, by year level was significant differences at the .05. 3) The factors affecting the critical thinking and problem solving skills in the 21^st century (Y) included three factors: reasoning ability (X₃), self-efficacy (X₄) and attitude towards learning (X₂) in which multiple correlation coefficient was found at .681 with a statistically significant at level of .05. The regression coefficient predictive competence was found to be at 46.40% (R²). These could be formed by a predictive equation as follows: 

Y = .899 + .287X₃ + .237X₄ + .237X₂