A comparative study between creative thinking and critical thinking and their application in physics education
Keywords:
Creative thinking, critical thinking, Physics education, convergent thinking, divergent thinkingAbstract
This study investigates the comparative impact of creative thinking and critical thinking instruction in high school physics education. A quasi-experimental quantitative design was employed involving 94 students from Grades 10 and 12 in the United Arab Emirates. Participants were divided into two groups: one received physics instruction emphasizing creative thinking, while the other focused on critical thinking strategies. Pre- and post-tests were administered using adapted versions of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) and the Watson–Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA). The findings revealed significant gains in both groups; however, students in the creative thinking group showed greater improvement, particularly in fluency, flexibility, and originality. Younger students (Grade 10) demonstrated higher responsiveness to creative instruction, whereas gender had no significant effect. These results highlight the value of integrating creative pedagogy into physics education and suggest that fostering divergent thinking can promote deeper conceptual understanding and enhance innovation readiness among science learners.
Downloads
References
Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (Eds.). (2001). A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Longman.
Apriwanda, W., & Hanri, C. (2022). Level of Creative Thinking Among Prospective Chemistry Teachers. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 11(2).
Arsih, F., Zubaidah, S., Suwono, H., & Gofur, A. (2021). RANDAI Learning Model to Enhance Pre-Service Biology Teachers' Critical Thinking Skills. International Journal of Instruction, 14(2), 845-860. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2021.14247a
Baer, J., & Kaufman, J. C. (2008). Gender Differences in Creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 42(2), 75–105. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.2008.tb01289.x
Baker, M., & Rudd, R. (2001). Correlations between critical and creative thinking. Journal of Southern Agricultural Education Research, 51(1), 173-188.
Batlolona, J. R., & Diantoro, M. (2023). Mental Models and Creative Thinking Skills in Students’ Physics Learning. Creativity Studies, 16(2), 433-447.
Beghetto, R. A., & Kaufman, J. C. (2014). Classroom Contexts for Creativity. High Ability Studies, 25(1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598139.2014.905247
Boonprasom, C., & Sintanakul, K. (2020). The Development of Collaborative Learning Management System Using Problem-Based on Cloud Learning to Enhance Critical Thinking. 2020 7th International Conference on Technical Education (ICTechEd7), 13–18. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTechEd749582.2020.9101249
Cottrell, S. (2005). Critical thinking: A cognitive skill associated with mind usage. Journal of Critical Thinking, 5, 1-10.
Ennis, R. H. (1985, 2011). The Nature of Critical Thinking: An Outline of Critical Thinking Dispositions and Abilities. University of Illinois.
Ennis, R. H. (1996). Critical thinking framework emphasizing evaluation on judgment.
Ennis, R. H. (2011). Critical Thinking: A Contemporary Usage. University of Illinois.
Ennis, R. H. (2015). Critical thinking: A contemporary usage. University of Illinois. Retrieved from https://faculty.education.illinois.edu/rhennis
Fatmawati, A., Zubaidah, S., & Mahanal, S. (2019). Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, and Learning Achievement: How They Are Related. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1417(1), 012070. IOP Publishing.
Fisher, A. (2011). Critical thinking: An evaluative approach. McGraw-Hill.
Guilford, J. P. (1967). The Nature of Human Intelligence. McGraw-Hill.
Hashemi, M., & Khajehpour, M. (2014). Investigating the Correlation Between Critical Thinking Ability and Argumentative Writing Achievement in Iranian EFL Learners.
Jaffar, A. (2004). The ability to see the discrepancies or logical flaws in arguments.
Khalil, R. Y., Tairab, H., Qablan, A., Alarabi, K., & Mansour, Y. (2023). STEM-based Curriculum and Creative Thinking in High School Students. Education Sciences, 13(12), 1195. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13121195
Kim, K. H. (2019). The Creativity Crisis: The Decrease in Creative Thinking Scores on the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Creativity Research Journal, 21(4), 285–295. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400410902897419
Ku, K. Y. (2009). Assessing students’ critical thinking performance: Urging for measurements using multi-response format. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 4, 70-76.
Luiz, S. (2017). The Role of Critical Thinking in Science Education. Education and Practice, 8. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320107360_The_Role_of_Critical_Thinking_in_Science_Education
Mansoori, A. A., Taani, O., Aghar, T. A., & McMinn, M. (2022). Faculty perceptions of Blackboard Learn as the main platform for teaching and learning. In Proceedings of the 2022 International Arab Conference on Information Technology (ACIT), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 22–24 November 2022.
Marin, L. M., & Halpern, D. F. (2011). Pedagogy for developing critical thinking in adolescents: Explicit Instruction produces greatest gains. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 6, 1-13.
Norris, L. (2018). Promoting 21st-century skills. British Council.
Olatunde-Aiyedun, T. G., & Ogunode, N. J. (2021). School Administration and Effective Teaching Methods in Science Education in Nigeria. International Journal on Integrated Education, 4(2), 145-161. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11502.54080
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction.
Permana, T. I., Hindun, I., Rofi'ah, N. L., & Azizah, A. S. N. (2019). Critical Thinking Skills: The Academic Ability, Mastering Concepts, and Analytical Skill of Undergraduate Students. Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Indonesia, 5(1), 1-8.
Piaget, J. (1970). The Science of Education and the Psychology of the Child. Viking Press.
Qamar, S. (2016). The role of critical thinking in education. Educational Psychology Review, 28(1), 23-42.
Saiful, A. M. I. N., Utaya, S., Bachri, S., Sumarmi, S., & Susilo, S. (2020). Effect of Problem Based Learning on Critical Thinking Skill and Environmental Attitude. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists, 8(2), 743-755. https://doi.org/10.17478/jegys.650344
Saputra, M., & Kuswanto, H. (2019). The Effectiveness of Physics Mobile Learning (PML) with HomboBatu Theme to Improve the Ability of Diagram Representation and Critical Thinking of Senior High School Students. International Journal of Instruction, 12(2), 471-490.
Selviana, A. S., & Sunarno, W. (2022). The Effectiveness of Using Physics Module with Problem-Based Learning to Enhance Critical and Creative Thinking Skills. Journal of Education Research and Evaluation, 6(1), 19-25.
Shaughnessy, J., Zeichmester, E., & Jeane, Z. (2014). Research Methods in psychology (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Publishers: New York.
Stobaugh, R. (2013). Assessing critical thinking in the classroom. Heinemann.
Sumarni, W., & Kadarwati, S. (2020). Ethno-stem project-based learning: Its impact to critical and creative thinking skills. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 9(1), 11-21.
Tafonao, T. (2018). Peranan Media Pembelajaran Dalam Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Mahasiswa. Jurnal Komunikasi Pendidikan, 2(2), 103-114.
Tanti, T., Kurniawan, D. A., Kuswanto, K., Utami, W., & Wardhana, I. (2020). Science Process Skills and Critical Thinking in Science: Urban and Rural Disparity. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 9(4), 489-498.
Tegeh, I. M., Santyasa, I. W., Agustini, K., Santyadiputra, G. S., & Juniantari, M. (2022). Group Investigation Flipped Learning in Achieving Students' Critical and Creative Thinking Viewed from Their Cognitive Engagement in Learning Physics. Journal of Education Technology, 6(2), 350-362.
Tiruneh, D. T., De Cock, M. D., Weldeslassie, A. G., Elen, J., & Janssen, R. (2015). Systematic design of a learning environment for domain-specific and domain-general critical thinking skills. Educational Technology Research and Development, 64(3), 481-505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-015-9417-2
Tiruneh, D. T., De Cock, M. D., Weldeslassie, A. G., Elen, J., & Janssen, R. (2016). Measuring Critical Thinking in Physics: Development and Validation of a Critical Thinking Test in Electricity and Magnetism. doi:10.1007/s10763-016-9723-0.
Tiruneh, D. T., Weldeslassie, A. G., Kassa, A., Tefera, Z., De Cock, M., & Elen, J. (2015). Systematic Design of a Learning Environment for Domain-Specific and Domain-General Critical Thinking Skills. Educational Technology Research and Development, 64(3), 481-505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-015-9417-2
Torrance, E. P. (1974). Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking: Norms-technical manual research edition. Personnel Press.
Torrance, E. P. (1974). Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Scholastic Testing Service.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.
Wahono, B., Lin, P. L., & Chang, C. Y. (2020). Evidence of STEM enactment effectiveness in Asian student learning outcomes. International Journal of STEM Education, 7, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00225-7
Wartono, W., Hudha, M. N., & Batlolona, J. R. (2019). How Are the Physics Critical Thinking Skills of the Students Taught by Using Inquiry-Discovery Through Empirical and Theoretical Overview? Research Gate. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3v5TD3F
Willingham, D. (2007). Critical Thinking in Science Education: A Cognitive Skill. Science Education Journal.
Zubaidah, S. (2018). The role of education (biology) in the industrial revolution 4.0 and supporting SDGs. Seminar Nasional UMM.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Mohammad Ibrahim Zamzam, Rosnidar Mansor, Mohammed Y.M. Mai
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
