Critical Thinking Skills and Attitude Towards Science: Mediating Effect of Study Engagement

This quantitative, correlational research study explored the levels and interrelationships among critical thinking skills, study engagement, and attitude toward science. It further examined the mediating role of study engagement in the relationship between critical thinking and attitude toward science. A total of 301 Grade 11 students from public schools in Pangantucan, Bukidnon were selected using Raosoft sampling from a population of 1,361. The adapted instrument underwent expert validation, translation, and revision before administration. All ethical procedures were observed, and data collection was carried out with proper permissions and systematic processing for analysis. Weighted mean, Pearson r and path analysis were used to analyzed the data. Results revealed that students exhibited moderate critical thinking skills and high levels of both study engagement and attitude toward science. There were significant correlations found among variables and study enagement partially mediates critical thinking skils and attiude towards science. The results indicated that improving critical thinking skills and study engagement could help students develop a more positive attitude toward science and guide educators and school administrators in designing targeted interventions that promote interests in science education.