Creative Thinking and Its` Relation to Students `Academic Achievement
Subject Areas : Research in Curriculum Planningلیلا ذهبیون 1 , غلامرضا احمدی 2
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Keywords: Academic Achievement, Azad university, creative thinking,
Abstract :
The present study investigates the extent of creative thinking in students and its relation to academic achievement. To substantiate such an objective, a descriptive – correlative survey design was utilized. The target population comprised all the students studying at Islamic Azad university Khorasgan Branch at various educational levals during 2006-2007 academic year. 250 students were randomly selected using stratified sampling method and sample selection formula. The instrument for collecting the data was Peter Honey`s model of measuring the creative thinking which was modified by the researcher so that certain demographic variables such as sex, parents` level of education, students` average scores, educational level and type of subject area were fitted into it. The data obtained were analyzed and interpreted by both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Whereas the former measured frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation values, the latter enlisted dependent t-test, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson product moment formula and Tukey test for interpreting the data. The findings revealed that all target students enjoyed creative thinking at an average value. In addition, there was no meaningful relationship between creative thinking on the one hand and sex, parents` level of education, students` average scores and type of subject areas on the other hand. However, the relationship between the students` educational level and creative thinking was significant. The results obtained from Tukey test indicated that there was a meaningful difference for creative thinking between students involved in two-year education and MA/MS students (P=0/021). By contrast, such difference between BA/BS students and MA/MS students was (P=0/002) which was also significant. Overall, it was concluded that creative thinking was higher in MA/MS students compared to the students involved in a two-year education.