Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review

The present study analyzes articles on critical thinking in Science and Mathematics Education, as well as identifies the research contexts in which critical thinking is present. The analytical procedures were performed based on the steps of a systematic review, described by Okoli (2015). Through an...

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Main Authors: Sandro Lucas Reis Costa, Naiara Briega Bortoloci, Fabiele Cristiane Dias Broietti, Rui Marques Vieira, Celina Tenreiro-Vieira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul 2021-04-01
Series:Investigações em Ensino de Ciências
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.if.ufrgs.br/cref/ojs/index.php/ienci/article/view/2084
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author Sandro Lucas Reis Costa
Naiara Briega Bortoloci
Fabiele Cristiane Dias Broietti
Rui Marques Vieira
Celina Tenreiro-Vieira
author_facet Sandro Lucas Reis Costa
Naiara Briega Bortoloci
Fabiele Cristiane Dias Broietti
Rui Marques Vieira
Celina Tenreiro-Vieira
author_sort Sandro Lucas Reis Costa
collection DOAJ
description The present study analyzes articles on critical thinking in Science and Mathematics Education, as well as identifies the research contexts in which critical thinking is present. The analytical procedures were performed based on the steps of a systematic review, described by Okoli (2015). Through an inventory, the characteristics of the publications were identified, and categories were established regarding: the references presented in the articles; definitions of critical thinking; and the research contexts. The results showed: reduced number of articles involving the theme (22 articles); 8 articles (36%) that mentioned the term critical thinking without citing authors who discuss this theme; and that, 13 articles (59%) did not present definitions for the term critical thinking. Regarding the research contexts, 13 articles (59%) reported that certain teaching approaches can promote critical thinking, without entering into discussions about how or why these processes occur. Regarding the conclusions, the following stand out: the predominance of using only qualitative methods to assess critical thinking and the need for more research that uses measures in combination with qualitative and quantitative instruments; the dominant trend (20 articles, 91%) to study the relationship between critical thinking and teaching proposals and the need for research that investigates other contexts (curriculum, perceptions of undergraduates and teachers, and assessment); and the scarcity of studies on critical thinking in Science Education in the national context, pointing out the need to develop this line of research nationally.
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spelling doaj.art-20a0a6efc75c4cc7b04c6fe05be66be12022-12-22T04:11:07ZengUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulInvestigações em Ensino de Ciências1518-87952021-04-0126114516810.22600/1518-8795.ienci2021v26n1p145642Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature reviewSandro Lucas Reis Costa0Naiara Briega Bortoloci1Fabiele Cristiane Dias Broietti2Rui Marques Vieira3Celina Tenreiro-Vieira4Universidade Estadual de LondrinaUniversidade Estadual de LondrinaUniversidade Estadual de LondrinaUniversidade de AveiroUniversidade de AveiroThe present study analyzes articles on critical thinking in Science and Mathematics Education, as well as identifies the research contexts in which critical thinking is present. The analytical procedures were performed based on the steps of a systematic review, described by Okoli (2015). Through an inventory, the characteristics of the publications were identified, and categories were established regarding: the references presented in the articles; definitions of critical thinking; and the research contexts. The results showed: reduced number of articles involving the theme (22 articles); 8 articles (36%) that mentioned the term critical thinking without citing authors who discuss this theme; and that, 13 articles (59%) did not present definitions for the term critical thinking. Regarding the research contexts, 13 articles (59%) reported that certain teaching approaches can promote critical thinking, without entering into discussions about how or why these processes occur. Regarding the conclusions, the following stand out: the predominance of using only qualitative methods to assess critical thinking and the need for more research that uses measures in combination with qualitative and quantitative instruments; the dominant trend (20 articles, 91%) to study the relationship between critical thinking and teaching proposals and the need for research that investigates other contexts (curriculum, perceptions of undergraduates and teachers, and assessment); and the scarcity of studies on critical thinking in Science Education in the national context, pointing out the need to develop this line of research nationally.https://www.if.ufrgs.br/cref/ojs/index.php/ienci/article/view/2084pensamento críticoensino de ciênciasrevisão bibliográfica sistemática
spellingShingle Sandro Lucas Reis Costa
Naiara Briega Bortoloci
Fabiele Cristiane Dias Broietti
Rui Marques Vieira
Celina Tenreiro-Vieira
Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review
Investigações em Ensino de Ciências
pensamento crítico
ensino de ciências
revisão bibliográfica sistemática
title Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review
title_full Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review
title_fullStr Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review
title_full_unstemmed Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review
title_short Critical thinking in science and mathematics education: a systematic literature review
title_sort critical thinking in science and mathematics education a systematic literature review
topic pensamento crítico
ensino de ciências
revisão bibliográfica sistemática
url https://www.if.ufrgs.br/cref/ojs/index.php/ienci/article/view/2084
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AT fabielecristianediasbroietti criticalthinkinginscienceandmathematicseducationasystematicliteraturereview
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AT celinatenreirovieira criticalthinkinginscienceandmathematicseducationasystematicliteraturereview