The effects of reflective thinking activities on the academic successes and attitudes of fifth grade primary social studies students

This study was aimed to determine the effects of reflective thinking skill activities on the academic successes and attitudes of fifth grade primary students in Social Studies. The sample of the research consisted of two equal groups in terms of academic success and personal characteristics selected among six classes at Türkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birliği Primary School. The experiment group called 5A class (with 36 students) and the control group called 5D class (with 40 students) were randomly determined. The research was designed as an experimental pattern being based on the one-group pretest and final test model. The academic success tests on knowledge, comprehension, application and analysis levels of the cognitive domain and the Social Studies Attitude Scale were used before and after experimental process.In this study, in order to develop students? reflective thinking skills, we used cooperative learning, questioning, self-questioning and keeping journal strategies and approaches. For this purposes, lesson plans, working papers with questioning strategies for group studies, personal and group journals with self-questioning strategies, and guidelines for over all works were prepared. Prior to the experimental process, both students and the teachers in the experimental group were educated for a two- week period. The total experimental process took place for nine weeks.The findings of the research showed that there was no significant difference in terms of students? academic success test on knowledge level between the experimental group whose reflective thinking skills were developed through different activities andVthe control group trained through the traditional education approach. But the test scores of the experimental group on comprehension, application and analysis questions, as well as their total scores, were significantly higher than the test scores of the control group. We also found that academic success of the students in the experimental group and their attitudes towards the lesson were higher and more positive than the students in the control group. These results evidently indicate that reflective thinking skills are positively correlated with and can develop high level thinking skills.In the light of research results we offered some suggestions that reflective thinking skills must be developed in all education levels, part of school programs and included within textbooks, and that these skills should improved to the teacher candidates.Key Words: Reflective Thinking, High Level Thinking Skills, Keeping Journal, Questioning, Cooperative Learning, Academic Success, Social Studies, Students? Attitudes.