High-level cognitive thinking skills and the changes in affection acquisitions in the problem-based learning process

In modern teaching model, it is necessary for individual to acquire top-level cognitive thinking skills. Individual should employ such skills as reaching the information, problem-solving, explaining the problem, being able to analyze, synthesizing and generalizing in order for the top-level cognitive thinking skills to be acquired. In conclusion, it appears to be necessary that the modern teaching methods, which allow the individual to use these skills, be included in the teaching process. One of the modern teaching methods is, on the other hand, the method of ?Problem-Based Learning?.The purpose of this study is to reveal the effect of Problem-Based Learning method applied in the subject of ?Statistics and Probability? to the third year students of elementary education mathematics teaching. Of the top-level cognitive thinking skills, mathematical thinking, creative thinking and critical thinking, and of the sensual acquisitions, attitude and the change in motivation were examined in this study.?Mathematical Thinking Scale?, developed by the researchers to unveil the mathematical thinking, ?Torrance Creative Thinking Verbal A-B Form?, whose Turkish version was created by Aslan (2001) to determinethe creative thinking skill, ?California Critical Thinking Aptitude Scale? adapted to Turkish by Kökdemir (2003) to determine the critical thinking aptitude and Scale of Attitude Towards Mathematics developed by Aşkar (1986) were used in the study.The research is composed of two parts. Therefore, method of the study was designed with two models. The first model is the one with pre-test/post-test control group from the testing models, and the second one is the relational screening model from the screening model.In testing model of the research, the courses were taught with the model of Problem-Based Learning in the experiemntal group and with the traditional method in the control group. As a consequence of the experimental study, assessments were made by receiving students? opinions towards the form of ?Evaluating Intra-Modular Activities?. Besides, interviews were carried out with the students participating in the process of Problem-Based Learning. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed by the researchers.In consequence of the experimental part of the study, it appears that Problem-Based Learning method improved the students? mathematical thinking levels in ?Statistics and Probability-I? subject and created a positive effect on their attitudes towards mathematics. In addition, it was observed from the feedbacks received that students?s views concerning Problem-Based Learning method are positive. In conclusion, the instruction presented with Problem-Based Learning method was understood to create improvement in students? top-level cognitive thinking skills and sensual acquisitions.In the study, the analyes through comparison in the relational screening model were carried out. Top-level cognitive thinking skills and sensual acquisitions of the first year students of Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Science, the Department of Statistics, who are instructed with the Problem-Based Learning method, and of the first year students of Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Science and Letters, the Department of Statistics, who are instructed with the traditional method, are comparatively presented. As a result, it was discovered that the students of Dokuz Eylül University, who completed the teaching process with Problem-Based Learning method have better acquisitons in cognitive and sensual aspects than the students of Ondokuz Mayıs University, who were instructed with traditional method.Key Words: Cognitive Domain, Sensual Acquisitions, Critical Thinking, Mathematical Thinking, Motivation, Problem-Based Learning, Attitude, Top-level Thinking, Creative Thinking.