THE EFFECT OF COGNITIVE APPRENTICESHIP STRATEGY ON DEVELOPING HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS AMONG EIGHTH GRADE BASIC FEMALE STUDENTS

This study investigated the effect of cognitive apprenticeship strategy on developing historical thinking skills among eighth-grade students using an experimental design with two equivalent groups. The sample consisted of eighth-grade female students from basic education schools in Zakho during the academic year 2024-2025, randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received instruction based on cognitive apprenticeship strategy while the control group used traditional teaching methods. A historical thinking skills test was developed and validated, encompassing five main skills: chronological and spatial sequencing, historical understanding, thinking about historical evidence, understanding change and continuity, and analyzing historical issues and decision-making. Results revealed statistically significant differences between groups favoring the experimental group, with further analysis showing significant improvement in all historical thinking skills from pre to post-test. Effect size calculations demonstrated that cognitive apprenticeship had a substantial impact on developing students' historical thinking skills. The study recommends incorporating historical thinking skills in social studies curricula and encouraging teachers to implement cognitive apprenticeship strategies.