Skills To Guide Discussions and Small Groups and Individuals

This study aims to improve students' critical thinking skills in the subject of Catholic Religious Education and Character through the implementation of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model. The background of this research is based on the low cognitive learning outcomes of students, particularly in critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The research was conducted at SMP Negeri 3 Pegagan Hilir with a sample of 12 students from class IX-A. The research method used was Classroom Action Research (CAR) conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consisted of the stages of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The instruments used included observation sheets and evaluation tests. The research results showed an increase in students' critical thinking skills in the second cycle compared to the first cycle. The average score of students' critical thinking skills increased from 70 in the first cycle to 88 in the second cycle, with a learning mastery rate of 90%. The implementation of the PBL model proved effective in enhancing students' participation in group discussions, critical thinking skills, and learning motivation. This model also helped students connect the concepts learned with real-life situations, thereby improving their understanding and learning outcomes

In the current era of artificial intelligence, large language models such as ChatGPT and BARD are being increasingly used for various applications, such as language translation, text generation, and human-like conversation. The fact that these models consist of large amounts of data, including many different opinions and perspectives, could introduce the possibility of a new qualitative research approach: Due to the probabilistic character of their answers, “interviewing” these large language models could give insights into public opinions in a way that otherwise only interviews with large groups of subjects could deliver. However, it is not yet clear if qualitative content analysis research methods can be applied to interviews with these models. Evaluating the applicability of qualitative research methods to interviews with large language models could foster our understanding of their abilities and limitations. In this paper, we examine the applicability of qualitative content analysis research methods to interviews with ChatGPT in English, ChatGPT in German, and BARD in English on the relevance of computer science in K-12 education, which was used as an exemplary topic. We found that the answers produced by these models strongly depended on the provided context, and the same model could produce heavily differing results for the same questions. From these results and the insights throughout the process, we formulated guidelines for conducting and analyzing interviews with large language models. Our findings suggest that qualitative content analysis research methods can indeed be applied to interviews with large language models, but with careful consideration of contextual factors that may affect the responses produced by these models. The guidelines we provide can aid researchers and practitioners in conducting more nuanced and insightful interviews with large language models. From an overall view of our results, we generally do not recommend using interviews with large language models for research purposes, due to their highly unpredictable results. However, we suggest using these models as exploration tools for gaining different perspectives on research topics and for testing interview guidelines before conducting real-world interviews.

<div class="WordSection1"><p>I am honored for being an alumnus of KEMC, and am delighted to write this editorial for the Annals. I have, ever since done my research and taught qualitative methods, felt that clinical methods are quite akin to qualitative research. Then, why only few clinical researchers use qualitative methods? A witness to this assumption is the research published in the Annals. In this treatise, I try to identify some parallels between the two types of methods and argue for the clinicians to invest in learning qualitative research methods to practice clinical methods well.</p><p> Qualitative research is to identify and interpret issues from the perspective of participants, their experience of: illness or disability, using health service, and to appreciate the meanings they give to the behaviour, events or objects in the context of their social and cultural norms. In this type of research, the emphasis is on exploring the associations and understanding the phenomenon in its holism; and not, like in quantitative research, from an outsider’s perspective and for certain specific aspects.<sup>1</sup> It requires participants with specific characteristics, selected purposely that can best inform the research topic. More participants, identified inductively during data collection, are added to develop full and multiple perspectives about the cases.<sup>2</sup></p><p> No preset data collection tool is used, instead qualitative researcher guided by a research question acts as an instrument, since the line of enquiry he changes during data collection as new understanding is gained and/or the situation changes.<sup>3</sup> The data for research is derived from the observation, interviews or verbal interactions, focus group discussions, document reviews, life histories etc. and the researcher asks why, how and under what circumstances things occur; and not just what, where and when. It is recorded in words or pictures and log book is used to record notes arising from interviews, observations, extracts from documents etc.</p><p> In health care settings patients are the subjects for clinical methods. The clinician, even prior to any verbal communication, observes the patient, e.g. for his gait and appearance. If in a bed or examination couch, his posture could give some clue to the illness. Inspection, a clinical method, is like systematic observation, which is qualitative method, should be holistic. In my third year during bedside teaching, Professor (late) Rashid Ahmed Qureshi said, <em>“patient has come to you as a whole and not his stomach in a tray”</em>, when a student straight went to examine abdomen of a patient with acute abdomen. History taking, another clinical method, is like conducting semi structured in depth interview – a qualitative research method. In both disciplines, we are told, <em>“not to ask leading, but follow up and probing questions”; </em>and Professor (late) Alamgir Khan, while teaching clinical methods, would add, <em>“if a good history is taken, you will establish diagnosis in over 65% of cases”. </em>Likewise, as part of history taking, documents related to patient’s illness history and treatment are reviewed similar to document review in qualitative research.</p><p> The two approaches however differ in how the data is analysed. In clinical practice, diagnosis is established based on the pathophysiological knowledge or patient’s clinical condition is discussed in clinicopathological conference.<sup>4</sup> On the other hand, qualitative research employs meaning based data analysis, whereby the qualitative data is transformed into some form of explanation, understanding or interpretation of people and situation that is investigated.<sup>5,6</sup></p><p> In conclusion, the history, the observation and the review of document related to patient are since obtainned using qualitative methods, the clinician trained in these methods could not only conduct these methods well but also interpret the data to identify and detect obstacles to the change in clinical condition and the reasons why improvement does or does not occur.<sup>7</sup> Finally, while it is heartening that research forums are organised in the institutions affiliated with KEMU, in order the research is richer, the researchers’ skills in qualitative research methods should be built.</p></div>

Critical thinking and problem solving skills are very important for an individual to have in the current era. Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills can play a role in facing competition and challenges at the global level. The importance of critical thinking and problem solving skills means that an analysis of these ability profiles is needed. One of the chemical materials that is closely related to problems in everyday life and requires high-level thinking skills is solution chemistry. The aim of this research is to analyze the critical thinking and problem solving abilities of high school students in solution chemistry material. This research was conducted at three high school schools in Kudus involving 80 students. The instruments used are 10 essay tests for each of critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as interviews. The results of the analysis of critical thinking and problem solving skills in the three schools are on average in the poor category. It is hoped that this research can provide an overview for schools regarding the profile of students' critical thinking and problem solving abilities which can later be used as evaluation material for schools. Keywords: critical thinking ability, problem solving ability, chemical solution topic

As early adopters of an emerging technology, the Tablet PC (TPC), certain University of Houston Information Systems Technology faculty began to integrate TPCs into the undergraduate curriculum in Fall 2003. Classroom experiences revealed the tool as particularly engaging to Information Systems Technology students. Thus, the authors now believe that TPCs have great potential to improve critical thinking skills of Information Systems Technology students if activities can be developed that capitalize on the inherent capability of the TPC to support visualization.We have just begun a formal investigation of the effectiveness of the TPC as an instructional tool that facilitates the development of critical thinking and learning skills in undergraduate Information Systems Technology students. The investigation extends previous work on the effectiveness of mind maps for improving critical thinking and problem solving skills by combining the visual learning technique of mindmapping with the emerging technology of the TPC and pen-enabled mindmapping software. The research question to be answered is: Do critical thinking skills of Information Systems Technology students improve when mindmapping activities are incorporated into the classroom and delivered via technology.In this paper, we first provide background information on the development of critical thinking and learning skills, the role of visual learning in the development of critical thinking and learning skills, and visual learning tools and techniques such as semantic networks, concept mapping, and mind mapping. We then describe the scope of the project we are undertaking and provide initial results of development efforts to create instructional modules and activities focused on mindmaps.

The problem currently faced by physics teacher is the students are less skilled in developing their critical thinking skills. Students critical thinking skill can be improved by applying learning methods that require students to be more active during the learning activities. One method that can be used to improve students critical thinking skill is to use the Problem Based Learning model. This research used qualitative research methods. Qualitative research methods used to obtain a description and analysis of the problem to be researched. This research was conducted in class XII Science 1 of SMA Negeri 1 Rumbio Jaya. The steps that can be used to determine student’s mental activities in critical thinking solve a problem are identify, define, enumerate, analyze, list, and self-correct. The applying of Problem Based Learning models in the learning process in class has a real impact on improving students critical thinking skills.

Statistics from the Department of Statistics showed that 76200 graduates in this country still failed to get a job. One of the main reasons of this phenomenon is the graduates are still unable to meet the demand of the current job market. The current job market is not only take seriously on knowledge and technical skills but also soft skills. Therefore, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) listed seven soft skills that should be possessed by the graduates. Among the seven soft skills, critical thinking and problem solving is the one of the emphasized skill. In this skills, there are three main subskills must be mastery from a total number subskills of seven. Thus, a survey was conducted to identify the level of critical thinking and problem solving skills among the engineering undergraduate students. A total of 341 final year students of Bachelor's degree in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia were stratified randomly selected as respondents. Data was collected through an achievement test on critical thinking and problem solving skills. Mean, standard deviation, Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis Test were employed to analyze the gathered data. Results showed that the level of critical thinking and problem solving skills of students for the three main subskills (Ability to Identify and Analyse Problem in Complex or Ambiguous Situation and Develop Justification Evaluation; Ability to Improve and Develop  Thinking Skill as Explain, Analyse and Discussion Evaluated; Ability to Generate  the Ideas and Alternative Evaluation) were at a moderate level. As the conclusion, the MOHE, education institutions and students must work together in order to enhance the acquisition for critical thinking and problem solving skill of graduates through the modification of teaching strategies, strengthening academic programs and others intervention programme.

Qualitative research has gained greater attention in medical research, but it might seem to be unscientific because qualitative and quantitative research methods are grounded in different paradigm. In this article, we introduce three major qualitative research methods frequently used in studies of patient-doctor communications: 1) in-depth interviews; 2) focus group interviews; and, 3) semi-structured interviews. Each qualitative research method has different or common advantages and disadvantages, and which methods should be used depends on the study objectives. Qualitative research and quantitative research are complementary: while quantitative research explains the prevalence or variation of an issue, qualitative research explains the reasons or processes of that prevalence or variation. Combination of the two methods enables the gathering of more comprehensive and explanatory results.

Purpose: This research study aims to address the role of higher education programs in developing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, emphasizing on the importance of the university professors’ role in nurturing these skills through the means they use in the classroom. The research also aims to highlight the difference in developing these skills among students between universities that follow the Francophone system and universities that follow the American system. Approach/Methodology/Design: To achieve the goal of this research, a descriptive approach was adopted to test the validity of the research hypotheses which are based on correlations between research variables related to higher education programs and the skill of critical thinking. A questionnaire was employed to collect data from the sample, which consisted of four private universities, divided into two groups which are two private universities that follow the American system, and two private universities that follow the Francophone system. The sample consisted of 120 students from universities that follow the American system, and 132 students from universities that follow the Francophone system. The students were selected from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Findings: It was found out that there are statistically significant differences between the students’ answers regarding the extent of their ability to possess the skills of critical thinking and problem-solving in concerning to the universities in which they study, and we have also found that there are statistically significant differences in the student’s acquisition of these skills between the programs of Francophone and American universities according to their demographic characteristics and majors. Practical Implications: The study will be of great use for concerned authorities, emphasizing on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Originality/value: The findings revealed a significant correlation between university programs and critical thinking and problem solving skills.

The Perception of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skill among Malaysian Undergraduate Students

This study aims to analyze the critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills, analyzing whether the improvement of critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills that are taught by the problem-based learning model using mind map better than students who are taught by conventional learning. This research is a quasi-experimental research with two group pretest-posttest design. The research population is all students of class X SMA Negeri 2 Bandar (senior high school) in first semester, academic year 2017/2018. The study sample was taken randomly consisting of 64 students. Class X MIPA-1 is an experimental class, consisting of 32 students with learning problem model learning using mind map. Class X MIPA-3 is a control class consisting of 32 students using conventional learning. The research instrument uses essay test of critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills that have been declared valid. Data analysis using statistical t-test. The results showed that the average value of critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills using conventional learning was 61.09 and 61.88 were in a low category while the students applying the problem-based learning model using mind map were 75.78 and 77.56 are in the moderate category. The result of hypothesis testing using independent sample t-test shows that each significance value (sig) <0.05 is 0.00 then H 0 is rejected, it means that the skills of critical thinking and problem-solving skills of students who are treated with problem-based learning model using mind map is better than conventional learning, so it can be concluded that there is the effect of problem based learning model using mind map to improve critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills

Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research in Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background. The use of qualitative research (QR) methods is recommended as good practice in discrete choice experiments (DCEs). This study investigated the use and reporting of QR to inform the design and/or interpretation of healthcare-related DCEs and explored the perceived usefulness of such methods. Methods. DCEs were identified from a systematic search of the MEDLINE database. Studies were classified by the quantity of QR reported (none, basic, or extensive). Authors (n = 91) of papers reporting the use of QR were invited to complete an online survey eliciting their views about using the methods. Results. A total of 254 healthcare DCEs were included in the review; of these, 111 (44%) did not report using any qualitative methods; 114 (45%) reported “basic” information; and 29 (11%) reported or cited “extensive” use of qualitative methods. Studies reporting the use of qualitative methods used them to select attributes and/or levels (n = 95; 66%) and/or pilot the DCE survey (n = 26; 18%). Popular qualitative methods included focus groups (n = 63; 44%) and interviews (n = 109; 76%). Forty-four studies (31%) reported the analytical approach, with content (n = 10; 7%) and framework analysis (n = 5; 4%) most commonly reported. The survey identified that all responding authors (n = 50; 100%) found that qualitative methods added value to their DCE study, but many (n = 22; 44%) reported that journals were uninterested in the reporting of QR results. Conclusions. Despite recommendations that QR methods be used alongside DCEs, the use of QR methods is not consistently reported. The lack of reporting risks the inference that QR methods are of little use in DCE research, contradicting practitioners’ assessments. Explicit guidelines would enable more clarity and consistency in reporting, and journals should facilitate such reporting via online supplementary materials.

The use of problem based learning (PBL) to improve critical thinking skills and Indonesian language skills, to improve students' critical thinking skills, problem based learning (PBL) is the right learning model to use. The purpose of problem-based learning is to find out how problem-based learning can help students in improving their critical thinking and language skills. The subject in this study focuses on how students' Indonesian language skills. Data collection techniques are done by observation and finding references from various research journals. The research method used in this study is quantitative method, quantitative research to try to find out how effective PBL is in improving certain skills, such as critical thinking and Indonesian language skills. PBL model can serve as a useful tool to improve students' critical thinking and Indonesian language skills.

One of the goals of learning physics is to help students develop their critical thinking skills. Preliminary studies conducted at SMAN 1 Pacitan show that the learning process is still teacher-centered with the lecture method and providing practice questions. Such a learning process causes the development of student's critical thinking skills to be less well-stimulated. Using e-modules in physics learning is expected to be a new solution to stimulate students' critical thinking skills. This research aims to determine the impact of Problem-Based learning physics electronic module integrated with STEM on students' critical thinking skills. The research method uses a quasi-experimental technique with a one-group pretest-posttest design. Data analysis used the N-gain test to determine the increase in students' critical thinking skills and the t-test to determine the effect of problem-based learning electronic module integrated with STEM on students' critical thinking skills. The sample was selected using a purposive sampling strategy. The samples involved were 34 students of class XI MIPA Senior High School Pacitan. The test was conducted to collect data on students' critical thinking skills. Research data was collected using an essay test of critical thinking skills totaling twelve valid questions with a reliability coefficient 0.70. Before the N-gain test was carried out, the normality, homogeneity, and t-test were first carried out. In the normality test, the data is normally distributed. In the homogeneity test, the data is homogeneous. Based on the paired sample t-test, it shows that there is a significant difference between pretest and posttest critical thinking skills with a sig. (2-tailed) &lt;0.05, which indicates that the problem-based learning electronic module integrated with STEM has a positive effect on students' critical thinking skills. By acquiring an N-Gain score of 0.76 in the high category, the PBL physics electronic module integrated with STEM on mechanical wave characteristics material can improve students' critical thinking skills.