An investigation on the relationship between problem solving and critical thinking skill, and academic achievement of vocational and technical high school students

This study is designed to reveal the relationship between problem solving and critical thinking skills and academic achievement of vocational and technical high school students. The target population consists of the students who are studying at a vocational and technical high school in Istanbul and the teachers working these institutions. The accessible population includes students and teachers in Kadıköy Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, Ataşehir Nureddin Erk Perihan Male Technical High School and Kadıköy Anatolian Vocational High School. The sample consists of 86 teachers and 186 students at 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade levels during 1st term of 2016-2017 academic year. The data collection tools are "Problem Çözme Becerisi Envanteri" prepared by Yaman (2003) and "Eleştirel Düşünme Becerisi Envanteri" developed by Özdemir (2005). The tools were applied to both students and teachers. In the analysis of the data, correlation techniques were used with arithmetic mean, standard deviation, t-test and one way variance analysis. According to findings obtained from quantitative data of the study, the students think that they have problem solving skills but they are not sure about their critical thinking skill levels. On the other hand, according to the teachers' opinions it can be said that the students are not sufficient in problem solving skills and the teachers are not sure about their students 'critical thinking skill levels. The study shows that there is a significant difference between teacher and student opinions on the level of problem solving skills, and there is not a significant difference between teacher and student opinions regarding the critical thinking skill levels. In addition, the problem-solving and critical thinking skills are strongly influenced by academic achievement of the students.