The Influence of Critical Thinking on Political Tolerance among High School Students in South Korea

This study investigates the relationship between critical thinking and political tolerance among high school students in South Korea, addressing gaps in current educational approaches that emphasize tolerance as an abstract value without adequately equipping students to confront the roots of intolerance. The research examines how critical thinking skills and dispositions influence political tolerance, proposing enhancements to social studies curricula. Using a sample of 300 high school students from the Seoul metropolitan area, the study employs multiple regression analysis to test two hypotheses: that critical thinking positively influences political tolerance, and that critical thinking dispositions moderate this relationship. The findings indicate that both critical thinking skills and dispositions significantly enhance political tolerance; however, the moderating effect of dispositions was not statistically significant. These results underscore the importance of integrating critical thinking into political education, suggesting that fostering such skills and dispositions may more effectively promote political tolerance and democratic values than traditional methods. The study offers valuable insights for educators seeking to improve political tolerance education in South Korea.