Effect of Constructivist Learning On Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Among Senior Secondary School Students In The Gusau Educational Zone Of Zamfara State, Nigeria

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@article{1717676,
      author = {Adeniran, Solomon Akintola Ph.D., Owoade, Mary Oyebola},
      title = {Effect of Constructivist Learning On Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Among Senior Secondary School Students In The Gusau Educational Zone Of Zamfara State, Nigeria},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {11},
      pages = {1772-1779},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1717676.pdf},
      abstract = {This study investigated how constructivist learning impacts the critical thinking skills of senior secondary school students in the Gusau Educational Zone of Zamfara State, Nigeria. The motivation behind this research stemmed from the ongoing decline in students' critical thinking abilities, which seems to be tied to the persistent use of traditional, teacher-centered teaching methods in secondary schools. To explore this, a quasi-experimental research design was employed, featuring both pre-test and post-test control groups. The study focused on senior secondary school (SS II) students, with a sample of 300 students drawn from six public secondary schools through a multi-stage sampling technique. The experimental group experienced teaching through constructivist learning strategies, including inquiry-based learning, collaborative learning, and problem-based learning, while the control group received instruction via the conventional lecture method. Data was gathered using a Critical Thinking Skills Test (CTST) developed by the researchers, which was validated by experts and had a reliability coefficient of 0.82. The analysis of the collected data involved mean, standard deviation, and independent t-test statistics at a significance level of 0.05. The results indicated that students who were taught using constructivist strategies exhibited significantly better critical thinking skills compared to those who learned through traditional methods. Additionally, the study found that constructivist learning positively influenced students' abilities to analyze, evaluate, and solve problems. In conclusion, the research affirmed that constructivist learning is an effective teaching approach for boosting students' critical thinking skills. The study recommended that teachers embrace constructivist teaching strategies, and it urged education stakeholders to provide the necessary training and resources to facilitate their implementation in secondary schools.},
      keywords = {Constructivist Learning, Critical Thinking Skills, Inquiry-Based Learning, Problem-Based Learning, Senior Secondary Students, Gusau Educational Zone.},
      month = {May},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717676}
  }