The effect of use of comics in science class on critical thinking and reflective thinking skills

In this study, it is aimed to examine the effect of using comics on critical and reflective thinking skills in the "Our Food" and "Effects of Force" units in the fourth grade science lesson. The sample of the research consists of 30 students attending two different fourth grade classes in the primary school in the Malazgirt District of Muş province in the 2021-2022 academic year. In the research, 15 students studying in 4/A class constitute the experimental group and 15 students studying in 4/B class constitute the control group. While the lessons were taught with the comics book application in the experimental group, the lessons in the control group were taught with the activities included in the current curriculum of the science course. The research method was determined as mixed method. In the research, the Critical Thinking Scale and the Problem-Oriented Reflective Thinking Skills Scale were used as quantitative data collection tools, while semi-structured interview forms were used as qualitative data collection tools. While analyzing the quantitative data of the research, SPSS statistical program was used, and the analysis of the data was made by using dependent and independent groups t-test and arithmetic mean. The analysis of qualitative data was analyzed using descriptive analysis method. Considering the quantitative results of the research; According to the pretest and posttest data obtained from the experimental and control groups, a significant difference was found in favor of the experimental group between the scores of the Critical Thinking Scale and the Reflective Thinking Scale for Problem Solving. When the results were examined, the use of comics in science lessons had a positive effect on different skills of primary school fourth grade students. Looking at the qualitative results of the research, it was concluded that comics aroused curiosity and interest in students, and developed critical thinking, communication, estimation and problem solving skills. In the interviews with the students and the classroom teacher, the comics; They stated that it embodies abstract concepts, facilitates the transfer of information to daily life by making it more permanent, the lessons become more fun due to the humor in comics, it contributes positively to the use of technology in lessons and it should be used in other lessons as well.