ENHANCING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS VIA PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING: A STUDY OF ABM STRAND STUDENT

Abstract

Problem-based learning (PBL) has been widely recognized as a pedagogical approach that immerses students in real-world problem solving, thereby enhancing their critical thinking skills. While evidence of PBL’s effectiveness has been documented across disciplines, its impact on the critical thinking skills of Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) students has remained underexplored. In this study, the effectiveness of PBL in enhancing critical thinking among ABM students was examined using a descriptive-correlational design. Data were gathered from 300 students through validated questionnaires. It was revealed that students exposed to PBL demonstrated significant improvements in their ability to identify problems, analyze information, evaluate data, develop creative solutions, and make informed decisions. It has therefore been suggested that schools adopt teacher training programs for effective PBL integration and align PBL approaches with ABM curricula. The study further recommended the inclusion of mixed-methods research to capture the nuanced effects of PBL on students’ critical thinking development (McPeck, 2016; Yew - Goh, 2016).