Investigation of the relationship between critical thinking perceptions and academic successes of primary school 4th grade students

The aim of this study is to discuss the relationship between critical thinking perceptions and academic achievement of primary school fourth grade students. The research that have been carried out holds the qualification of relational survey model which is considered as one of the survey model. The samplings of the research is composed of 4th grade, totally 500 students from 14 different schools that placed in the Center of Erzincan Province. The data of the research have been collected by using "Critical Thinking Perception Scale" that developed by researcher. In the analysis of the data obtained in the research; descriptive conditions are for multivariate variance analysis (MANOVA), under the LSD test, pearson moment product correlation and multivariate regression analysis. The findings of the research are summarized as follows; 1.It was determined that the scores of reasoning and comprehension perceptions of fourth grade students of primary school are high. On the other hand, the scores of the perceptions of flexibility and interpretation were found to be lower than other perceptions. 2.It has been determined that the fourth, middle, and middle school students of high, middle and low socioeconomic level have high scores on reasoning and comprehension. Nevertheless, the scores of the perceptions of flexibility and interpretation were found to be lower than other perceptions. No significant difference was found according to the socioeconomic level.3. It is concluded that there is a significant difference between the mean scores of critical thinking perceptions of primary school fourth grade students in terms of gender variable. In this context, while the average scores of the students' reasoning, interpretation, and thinking skills were significantly higher than the male students, it was observed that there was no significant difference between the average scores of the flexibility skills. 4. In terms of the mother / father education level variable of fourth grade students in primary school; While there was a significant difference between the mother education level and the mean scores of critical thinking perceptions, there was no significant difference between the father education level and the mean scores of critical thinking perceptions. 5.It has been observed that there is a moderate meaningful relationship between critical thinking perceptions and academic achievement of fourth grade students in primary school. It has been observed that the primary school fourth grade students' perceptions of reasoning, comprehensiveness and interpretation and their academic achievement are positively low, and their flexibility perceptions have a very low and positively significant relationship. 6. The perceptions of reasoning, comprehensiveness, and interpretation of fourth grade students in primary school predicted their academic success. However, it was concluded that the perception of flexibility of elementary school fourth grade students did not predict their academic success. Key Words: Academic Success, Thinking, Critical Thinking, Primary School.