Assessing Critical Thinking in Mathematics Education: A Systematic Review and Analysis Using the PRISMA Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36312/ijece.v4i1.1858Keywords:
Review literature, mathematics learning, assessment, critical thinking skills, PRISMA FrameworkAbstract
Developing critical thinking skills is paramount in the realm of mathematics education in today's era. It's crucial to monitor learners' advancements in critical thinking, as such insights are valuable for enhancing educational methodologies. Recognizing this, the availability of tools for evaluating critical thinking abilities is vital for fostering students' proficiency in these skills. This research sets out to review existing literature on the assessment of critical thinking capabilities within the sphere of mathematics. A thorough analysis was conducted on relevant scholarly articles focusing on the evaluation of critical thinking in mathematics education. The study adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, which includes the steps of identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. Literature from the SCOPUS database was meticulously reviewed, given its esteemed status in providing precise data for international research indexing. Data from the selected documents were visualized using VOSviewer software. Adhering to the PRISMA methodology, findings reveal the significance of critical thinking in the field of mathematics education and highlight various methods and tools that can assess these skills within mathematical contexts. Nonetheless, there remains a gap in consensus on the definition of critical thinking due to the diverse array of theories and perspectives, leading to variability in assessment standards, particularly in mathematics education. Thus, there is a pressing need to precisely define critical thinking within the mathematical domain and to develop accurate tools for its assessment.
References
Abosalem, Y. (2016). Assessment Techniques and Students’ Higher-Order Thinking Skills. International Journal of Secondary Education, 4(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsedu.20160401.11
Animasaun, I. L., & Abegunrin, O. A. (2017). Gender difference, self-efficacy, active learning strategies and academic achievement of undergraduate students in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 8(4), 255. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTCS.2017.088929
De Zeeuw, A., Craig, T., & You, H. S. (2013). Assessing conceptual understanding in mathematics. 2013 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), 1742–1744. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2013.6685135
Dewey, J. (1933). How We Think: A Restatement of the Relation of Reflective Thinking to the Educative Process. D.C. Heath & Co Publishers.
Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2012). The thinker’s guide to intellectual standards: The words that name them and the criteria that define them. Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.
Ennis, R. (2018). Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum: A Vision. Topoi, 37(1), Article 1.
Ennis, R. H. (2011). The nature of critical thinking: An outline of critical thinking dispositions and abilities. Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines, 26(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.5840/inquiryctnews201126214
Ennis, R. H. (2015). Critical Thinking: A Streamlined Conception. In M. Davies & R. Barnett (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Thinking in Higher Education (pp. 31–47). Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137378057_2
Ennis, R. H., Millman, J., & Tomko, T. N. (1985). Cornell Critical Thinking Tests. Midwest Publications.
Ennis, R. H., & Weir, E. (1985). The Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test. Midwest Publication.
Erikson, M. G., & Erikson, M. (2019). Learning outcomes and critical thinking – good intentions in conflict. Studies in Higher Education, 44(12), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1486813
Evendi, E., Kusaeri, A. K. A., Pardi, M. H. H., Sucipto, L., Bayani, F., & Prayogi, S. (2022). Assessing students’ critical thinking skills viewed from cognitive style: Study on implementation of problem-based e-learning model in mathematics courses. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 18(7), em2129. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12161
Evendi, E., & Verawati, N. N. S. P. (2021). Evaluation of Student Learning Outcomes in Problem-Based Learning: Study of Its Implementation and Reflection of Successful Factors. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 7(SpecialIssue), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v7iSpecialIssue.1099
Facione, N. C., Facione, P. A., & Sanchez, C. A. (1994). Critical Thinking Disposition as a Measure of Competent Clinical Judgment: The Development of the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. Journal of Nursing Education, 33(8), 345–350. https://doi.org/10.3928/0148-4834-19941001-05
Facione, P. A. (1990). The California Critical Thinking Skills Test—College Level. Technical Report #1. Experimental Validation and Content Validity. California Academic Press, 217 La Cruz, Millbrae, CA 94030. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED327549
Faradillah, A., & Adlina, S. (2021). Validity of critical thinking skills instrument on prospective Mathematics teachers. Jurnal Penelitian Dan Evaluasi Pendidikan, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.21831/pep.v25i2.40662
Gultom, C., Triyanto, T., & Saputro, D. (2022). Students’ mathematical reasoning skills in solving mathematical problems. Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia, 11(3), 542-551. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpiundiksha.v11i3.42073
Halpern, D. F. (2010). Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment Manual. Schuhfried GmbH.
Herpiana, R., & Rosidin, U. (2018). Development of instrument for assessing students’ critical and creative thinking ability. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 948, 012054. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/948/1/012054
Hidayah, I., Kusmayad?, T., & Fitriana, L. (2021). Minimum competency assessment (akm): an effort to photograph numeracy. Journal of Mathematics and Mathematics Education, 11(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.20961/jmme.v11i1.52742
Hong, Z., Yuan, R., & He, X. (2020). Investigating university efl teachers’ perceptions of critical thinking and its teaching: voices from china. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 29(5), 483-493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-020-00500-6
Kimmel, H. S., Burr-Alexander, L. E., Hirsch, L., Rockland, R. H., Carpinelli, J. D., & Aloia, M. (2014). Pathways to effective K-12 STEM programs. 2014 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) Proceedings, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2014.7044362
Krathwohl, D. R. (2002). A Revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy: An Overview. Theory Into Practice, 41(4), 212–218. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4104_2
Krejci, S. E., Ramroop-Butts, S., Torres, H. N., & Isokpehi, R. D. (2020). Visual Literacy Intervention for Improving Undergraduate Student Critical Thinking of Global Sustainability Issues. Sustainability, 12(23), 10209. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310209
Lai, E. R. (2011). Critical thinking: A literature review (pp. 1–50). https://images.pearsonassessments.com/images/tmrs/CriticalThinkingReviewFINAL.pdf
Leach, S. M., Immekus, J. C., French, B. F., & Hand, B. (2020). The factorial validity of the Cornell Critical Thinking Tests: A multi-analytic approach. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 37, 100676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100676
Liu, O. L., Frankel, L., & Roohr, K. C. (2014). Assessing Critical Thinking in Higher Education: Current State and Directions for Next-Generation Assessment: Assessing Critical Thinking in Higher Education. ETS Research Report Series, 2014(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/ets2.12009
Maulyda, M. A. (2020). Mathematics Learning Paradigm based on NCTM. CV IRDH.
Montgomery, C., & Fernández-Cárdenas, J. M. (2018). Teaching STEM education through dialogue and transformative learning: Global significance and local interactions in Mexico and the UK. Journal of Education for Teaching, 44(1), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/02607476.2018.1422606
Naidoo, J., & Reddy, S. (2023). Embedding Sustainable Mathematics Higher Education in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era Post-COVID-19: Exploring Technology-Based Teaching Methods. Sustainability, 15(12), 9692. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129692
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Principles, Standards, and Expectations—National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. https://www.nctm.org/Standards-and-Positions/Principles-and-Standards/Principles,-Standards,-and-Expectations/
O’Hare, L., & McGuinness, C. (2015). The validity of critical thinking tests for predicting degree performance: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Educational Research, 72, 162–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2015.06.004
Onion, A. J. (2004). What use is maths to me? A report on the outcomes from student focus groups. Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications, 23(4), 189–194. https://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/23.4.189
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews, 10(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01626-4
Papic, M. (2015). An Early Mathematical Patterning Assessment: Identifying young Australian Indigenous children’s patterning skills. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 27(4), 519–534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-015-0149-8
Prayogi, S., Yuanita, L., & Wasis. (2018). Critical Inquiry Based Learning: A Model of Learning to Promote Critical Thinking Among Prospective Teachers of Physic. Journal of Turkish Science Education, 15(1), Article 1.
Quinn, S., Hogan, M., Dwyer, C., Finn, P., & Fogarty, E. (2020). Development and Validation of the Student-Educator Negotiated Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale (SENCTDS). Thinking Skills and Creativity, 38, 100710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100710
Salamah, D. P. (2020). Error Analysis based on Newman Error Analysis on Compound Event Probability Material Viewed from Gender and Self Confidence. JPMI (Jurnal Pembelajaran Matematika Inovatif), 3(4), 273-284. https://doi.org/10.22460/jpmi.v3i4.p%25p
Samritin, S., & Suryanto, S. (2016). Developing an assessment instrument of junior high school students’ higher order thinking skills in mathematics. Research and Evaluation in Education, 2(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.21831/reid.v2i1.8268
Sarkingobir, Y., Egbebi, L. F., & Awofala, A. O. A. (2023). Bibliometric Analysis of the Thinking Styles in Math and Its’ Implication on Science Learning. International Journal of Essential Competencies in Education, 2(1), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.36312/ijece.v2i1.1391
Sontgerath, S., & Meadows, R. N. (2018). A comparison of changes in science interest and identity and 21st century learning skills in a mixed-gender and single-gender robotics program for elementary/ middle school youth. CoNECD 2018 - Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity Conference, 164476, 1–12.
Spector, J. M., & Ma, S. (2019). Inquiry and critical thinking skills for the next generation: From artificial intelligence back to human intelligence. Smart Learning Environments, 6(1), 8, s40561-019-0088-z. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-019-0088-z
Sudrajat, A. K. (2018). Development of Formative Assessment on Circulatory System Material to Measure Students' Critical Thinking Abilities. Journal of Educational Research, 18(3), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.17509/jpp.v18i3.15291
Suhirman, S., & Prayogi, S. (2023). Overcoming Challenges in STEM Education: A Literature Review That Leads to Effective Pedagogy in STEM Learning. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(8), 432–443. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i8.4715
Tanjung, H. S., Nababan, S. A., Sa’dijah, C., & Subanji. (2020). Development of Assessment Tools of Critical Thinking in Mathematics in the Context of HOTS. Advances in Mathematics: Scientific Journal, 9(10), 8659–8667. https://doi.org/10.37418/amsj.9.10.91
Tanujaya, B., Indra Prahmana, R. C., & Mumu, J. (2021). Mathematics Instruction to Promote Mathematics Higher-Order Thinking Skills of Students in Indonesia: Moving Forward. TEM Journal, 1945–1954. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM104-60
Tsai, K. (2012). Dance with critical thinking and creative thinking in the classroom. Journal of Sociological Research, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.5296/jsr.v3i2.2323
Verawati, N. N. S. P., Prayogi, S., Yusup, M. Y., & Taha, H. (2020). Development of the Test Instrument for Measuring Students’ Critical Thinking Abilities on Fluid Material. Prisma Sains, 8(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.33394/j-ps.v8i1.2487
Watson, G., & Glaser, E. M. (1980). Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, forms A and B manual. The Psychological Corporation.
Werner, P. H. (1991). The Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test: An Instrument for Testing and Teaching (Test Review). Journal of Reading, 34(6), 494–495.
Widiyawati, Y., Nurwahidah, I., Sari, D. S., Masykuri, M., & Budiyanto, C. W. (2020). STEM-Project Based Learning Integration On Bioacoustics Worksheet To Enhance Critical Thinking Skills. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Learning Innovation and Quality Education, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1145/3452144.3452279
Williams, L. & Lahman, M. (2011). Online discussion, student engagement, and critical thinking. Journal of Political Science Education, 7(2), 143-162. https://doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2011.564919
Wiliam, D. (2013). Assessment: The Bridge between Teaching and Learning. Voices from the Middle, 21(22), 15–20.
Wirzal, M. D. H., Nordin, N. A. H. M., Bustam, M. A., & Joselevich, M. (2022). Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Scientific Literacy between 2018 and 2022: Science Education Subject. International Journal of Essential Competencies in Education, 1(2), 69–83. https://doi.org/10.36312/ijece.v1i2.1070
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Irham Azmi, Mohd Faizal Nizam Lee Abdullah, Zuraida Alwadood, Franklin P. Calaminos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
