Critical Thinking and Learning Commitment

• Learning commitment involves a desire to excel in school, a perpetual sense of the importance of learning, and belief in one’s abilities
• Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information, be aware of biases and assumptions, and apply consistent standards when evaluating sources
• In a study on Brazilian undergraduate nursing students, a moderate level of critical thinking was found, with low performance in five of the eight critical thinking categories
• Research in Zambales addressed students' lack of commitment to learning and deficient critical thinking skills, emphasizing the value of fostering an environment that encourages inquisitiveness and analytical thinking
• In Davao City, Philippines, low learning commitment among students has been identified as a significant factor influencing their critical thinking abilities
• Majority of Grade 12 ABM students are experiencing a low level of learning commitment, impacting their critical thinking skills and academic performance
• Research objectives:

  • Determine the level of Learning Commitment among Grade 12 ABM students
  • Determine the level of Critical Thinking Skills among Grade 12 ABM students
  • Test the significant relationship between Learning Commitment and Critical Thinking Skills among Grade 12 ABM students
• Learning commitment is crucial for academic success, fostering a positive learning environment and inspiring peers
• Learning commitment is a continuous journey of acquiring new knowledge, skills, and insights throughout various life stages, essential for excelling in academic pursuits and fostering adaptability and resilience
• Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action
• Piaget's cognitive development theory suggests that as students progress through different stages of cognitive growth, their ability to think critically also evolves
• Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory posits that social interactions and educational environments significantly contribute to the development of critical thinking
• Main's study consistently highlights the positive correlation between strong critical thinking skills and academic achievement
• A strong learning commitment can positively influence the development of critical thinking skills in students, promoting a growth mindset and continual advancement of critical thinking
• The conceptual framework of the study includes learning commitment as the X variable and critical thinking skills as the Y variable, emphasizing the association between the two variables
• Learning Commitment: dedication and sustained effort toward acquiring knowledge
• Critical Thinking Skills: ability to analyze, evaluate, and logically synthesize information
• Research design for the study: non-experimental quantitative research design using a correlation technique
• Research design is a blueprint for conducting a study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings
• Non-experimental design encompasses techniques for conducting quantitative research where manipulation of variables may not occur due to their natural state before the study
• Research locale: the study will be conducted in one of the private schools in Davao, strategically situated in the heart of the city
• Population and Sample: 30 participants in the study, all grade 12 students under the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) strand

  22 female and 8 male
• Research instrument: a survey questionnaire to gauge the level of Learning Commitment and Critical Thinking Skills among Grade 12 ABM Students
• Data collection steps: permission to conduct a survey obtained from the principal, questionnaire administered to participants, data collected tallied for statistical analysis
• Statistical tools for data analysis: Mean to determine the level of learning commitment and critical thinking skills, Standard Deviation for consistency, Pearson r for significant relationship between learning commitment and critical thinking skills
• Attachment is a strong reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver
• Schaffer and Emerson's 1964 study on attachment:

  • Aim: identify stages of attachment / find a pattern in the development of an attachment between infants and parents
  • Participants: 60 babies from Glasgow
  • Procedure: analysed interactions between infants and carers
  • Findings: babies of parents/carers with 'sensitive responsiveness' were more likely to have formed an attachment
• Freud's superego is the moral component of the psyche, representing internalized societal values and standards
• Learning commitment among Grade 12 ABM students:

  • Includes statements on attending classes, participating actively, completing assignments on time, using school resources, and respecting others

  
• Critical thinking skills among Grade 12 ABM students:

  • Statements cover identifying problems, thinking critically, evaluating arguments, communicating effectively, and reconsidering biases