Developing Analytical Thinking and Learning Achievement of Social Studies, Religion and Culture Subjects of Matthayomsuksa 4 Students by Using Inquiry Method

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ development in analytical
thinking, learning achievement, and opinion towards Social Studies subject using
inquiry-based learning as a means of instruction. The population was mattayom 4 students
of Maechai Wittayakhom School under Secondary Educational Service Area Offce 36 (Chiang RaiPhayao). The research instruments were: 1) inquiry-based lesson plan; 2) analytical
thinking test; 3) Social Studies achievement test; and 4) questionnaire investigating opinion
towards Social Studies subject. The data was analyzed using mean and t-test. The fndings
showed that analytical thinking mean score and learning achievement of Social Studies
subjects of students who were in the class using inquiry-based learning were higher than
students in normal class at the signifcant level of .001. This concurred with the set
hypothesis at the signifcant level of .05. Students in inquiry-based learning class showed
higher mean score of opinion towards Social Studies subject than students in normal class
at the signifcant level of .05.