Examination of the relationship between reasoning styles and critical thinking skills of social studies teacher candidates

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between social studies teacher candidates' reasoning styles and critical thinking skills. This research is a descriptive study in relational screening model. The study group of the research consists of 434 teacher candidates studying in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades of education faculties of two different universities in the 2021-2022 academic year. The Reasoning Styles Scale developed by Duran (2019) and the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale developed by Semerci (2016) were used. As a result of the research, it was determined that there is a moderate, positive and significant relationship between the reasoning styles of social studies teacher candidates and their critical thinking skills. According to the research findings, reasoning styles and critical thinking skills of social studies teacher candidates do not show a significant difference according to the variables of gender, grade level, university, parental education level, economic status, and maternal attitude. Significant differences were found in the critical thinking skills of social studies teacher candidates according to the factor in the choice of department, the frequency of reading books and the attitude of the father. Pre-service teachers' critical thinking skills are at the highest level among those who voluntarily choose their department, those who always read books, and those whose fathers are democratic. It is at the lowest level among those who choose a department with the suggestion of the environment, those who occasionally read books and those whose fathers are not democratic. It is at the lowest level among those who choose a department with the suggestion of the environment, those who occasionally read books and those whose fathers are not democratic. In future studies, the reasons that reduce the critical thinking skills of prospective teachers who prefer departments due to the suggestions of the environment and the anxiety of inability to settle down can be revealed. Measures can be taken to increase the critical thinking skills of students who occasionally read books. Studies can be conducted to determine the reasons why teacher candidates whose fathers are not democratic have lower critical thinking skills.