Abstract This research aimed to study the effects of problem-based learning (PBL), group characteristics, and their interaction effects on critical thinking and academic achievement of teacher students. The sample consisted of 150 students from the Faculty of Education, Prince of Songkla University. Students were classified into 3 groups : science-based, arts-based, and combined groups; each group had 50 students. In each group 25 students were randomly assigned to receive the PBL teaching method, and the other 25 to receive a regular teaching method. Critical thinking tests were administered before and after the experiment while an academic achievement test was carried out after the experiment. The factorial ANOVA and ANCOVA were employed in data analysis. It was found that 1) the PBL had a higher effect on academic achievement than the regular teaching method, significantly at the .05 level, 2) different group characteristics had no significant effect on academic achievement, and 3) teaching methods and group characteristics had interaction effects on critical thinking, significantly at the 05 level. Simple main effect tests indicated that only with the science-based students did the PBL have a higher effect on critical thinking than the regular teaching method, significantly at the .05 level.
Keywords : critical thinking, problem-based learning, teacher students
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