The Effects of Problem Based Learning in the Topic of Chemistry of Life on Learning Achievement and Analytical Thinking Ability of Matthayom Suksa IV Students at Princess Chulabhorn’s College, Satun in Satun Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to compare science learning achievement of Mathayom Suksa IV students of Princess Chulabhorn’s College after learning under the problem-based learning management with that of the students who had learned under the traditional learning management; and 2) to compare analytical thinking ability of Mathayom Suksa IV students of Princess Chulabhorn’s College after learning under the problem-based learning management with that of the students who had learned under the traditional learning management. The research sample consisted of 48 Mathayom Suksa IV students in two intact classrooms, each of which containing 24 students, of Princess Chulabhorn’s College, Satun province, obtained by cluster sampling method. The employed research instruments were 1) lesson management plans in the topic of Chemistry of Life for the problem-based learning management; 2) a learning achievement test; and 3) an analytical thinking ability test. Statistics employed for data analysis were the percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test. The research findings revealed that 1) the post-learning science learning achievement in the topic of Chemistry of Life of Mathayom Suksa IV students who learned under the problem-based learning management was significantly higher than the counterpart learning achievement of the students who learned under the traditional learning management at the .05 level; and 2) the post-learning analytical thinking ability of Mathayom Suksa IV students who learned under the problem-based learning management was significantly higher than the counterpart ability of the students who learned under the traditional learning management at the .05 level.