Influence of problem-based learning method in the development of critical thinking, in the students of basic sciences at the school of Medicine of the Universidad César Vallejo

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study aimed to demonstrate the influence of the method of problem-based learning in the development of critical thinking, in the students of basic sciences at the school of Medicine of the Universidad César Vallejo. For this purpose was used as a measuring instrument test Watson and Glaser. The sample consisted of 80 students, 40 of the experimental group and 40 of the group control. Pre and post tests were applied to both groups, with respect to the abilities proposed by Watson and Glaser, the averages of the experimental group scores were 41.67 in the pre-test and 48.25 in the pos-test, while in the control group were 44.20 and 44.22 for the pre-test and the pos-test respectively; to make comparisons of the partial and total average of critical thinking skills, all of them had increased more in the experimental group with respect to the control group, except in the ability of evaluation of arguments. Similarly, comparing the increase in the total average of the skills of critical thinking, is that there are values of 6.75 for the experimental group and 0.025 for the control group with a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between the two groups. With the results of this experience, it can be concluded that the problem-based learning significantly influences the development of the skills of critical thinking in students of Medicine ofthe Universidad Cesar Vallejo.