Examining the impact of a strength-based program to enhance teacher-trainees’ critical thinking abilities: a pilot study
Purpose – The purpose of this study was to examine how well a strength-based program grounded in positive psychology principles can advance the practical critical thinking skills of those pursuing the teacher training course. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a single-group pre-test post...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Emerald Publishing
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Quality Education for All |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/QEA-12-2023-0019/full/pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Purpose – The purpose of this study was to examine how well a strength-based program grounded in positive psychology principles can advance the practical critical thinking skills of those pursuing the teacher training course. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a single-group pre-test post-test design with 35 teacher-trainees from the Bachelor of Education course. The two-and-a-half-week strength-based program used the values in action survey to identify strengths. Pre- and post-test scores, measured with the Cornell Critical Thinking Test – Level Z, underwent Statistical Package for Social Sciences analysis including paired samples t-test for subcomponent and overall composite analysis. Findings – Analysis of the pre- and post-test scores demonstrated a statistical significance in the critical thinking scores obtained by the teacher-trainees. Post-test scores were consistently significant. Out of the elements of critical thinking, induction, meaning, observation and credibility were more prominent. Deduction and assumption identification were also having a significant effect. Originality/value – Most critical thinking programs focus on evaluating specific teaching methods for improving critical thinking skills. In education, positive psychology studies often center on students’ well-being, attention spans and academic success, aligning with wellness programs. Despite the importance of strengths in positive psychology, there is a lack of research on using a strength-based approach to boost critical thinking skills. This study aims to enhance teacher-trainees’ critical thinking by leveraging their individual strengths, moving away from traditional instructional strategies. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2976-9310 |