Cognitive Distortions among Secondary School Students in Qurna District of Basrah Province

The research aimed to identify cognitive distortions among secondary school students in Qurna district of Basrah Province. The researchers used the descriptive approach. The research sample was (400) female students of secondary school, out of (8225) students, where the number of schools (17) (intermediate, preparatory, secondary). The researchers adopted a scale (Al Alawy, 2013), which measures cognitive distortions, consisted of (53) points, and presented. These are presented to a group of arbitrators in measurement, evaluation and psychology numbered (25) arbitrators, and extracted the psycho-metric characteristics. The researchers employed statistical means, and the T-test for two independent samples, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the equation of Alpha Cronbach, and the factorial analysis of the scale. The results showed the existence of cognitive distortions among secondary school students, as the arithmetic mean reached (127.55), and a standard deviation (22.09). The results showed that the sample members do not suffer from cognitive distortions. In light of these results a number of recommendations were made, the most prominent of which was the need to focus on the cognitive aspects of secondary school students by promoting creative thinking, and providing opportunities for students to express their ideas freely to know the way they think.