Critical Thinking and Students Scientific Epistemological Beliefs

This study investigated the critical thinking skills and Science Epistemological Beliefs (SEB) of grade VII students at an Islamic boarding school in MTsN 1 Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Using a descriptive quantitative approach, data were collected through a critical thinking skills test and a SEB questionnaire. The analysis revealed that the highest critical thinking indicators were basic classification, strategy, and tactics, demonstrating good performance. However, the justification indicator for SEB was notably low, highlighting gaps in students' understanding of scientific concepts. Overall, students exhibited moderate critical thinking skills, underscoring the need for strategies to enhance critical thinking and epistemological understanding.