SLR: Analysis of the Application of a Guided Inquiry Learning Model to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Abilities in Science Learning

Oct 15, 2026

The guided inquiry learning model is positioned as an instructional approach capable of strengthening students’ critical thinking in science learning. This study applies a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) supported by PRISMA to evaluate the effectiveness of guided inquiry for critical thinking outcomes. Data comprise 40 international journal articles indexed by Scopus, followed by screening for upper secondary contexts (12 articles). Article selection considers open access availability, methodological quality, topic alignment, and references from the last five years. Descriptive analysis synthesizes findings, concluding strong effectiveness.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Method

SLR: Analysis of the Application of a Guided Inquiry Learning Model to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Abilities in Science Learning Cahya Widya Gunawan Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia, [https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3680-4163](https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3680-4163) Pujianto Pujianto Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia, [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2140-4245](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2140-4245) Proki Karandja Hawur Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia, [https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9536-9568](https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9536-9568) Wike Nur Febriani Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia, [https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9125-2443](https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9125-2443) Abstract: The guided inquiry learning model is a learning model that has the potential to improve students'critical thinking abilities. Guided inquiry is a learning model designed to train students to investigate problems and solve them based on facts. This research aims to examine the effectiveness of the guided inquiry learning model on students' critical thinking skills in science subjects. The methodology in this research uses Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with the help of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses) . The scientific articles used as research data were 40 articles originating from international journals indexed by Scopus. Then it was reviewed again based on school level, namely upper secondary school level, as many as 12 articles were listed. Article validation is carried out by considering articles that can be accessed freely, the quality of research methodology, the topic of the article, and references in the last 5 years. The data collection technique uses descriptive analysis. So based on the literature study that has been carried out, this guided inquiry learning model is very effective in improving students' critical thinking abilities. Keywords: Guided Inquiry, Critical Thinking, Science Citation: Widya Gunawan, C., Pujianto, P. Hawur, P. K. & Febriani, W. N. (2025) . SLR: Analysis of the Application of a Guided Inquiry Learning Model to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Abilities in Science Learning. In M. S. Ozturk, M. Unal & M. L. Ciddi (Eds.), Proceedings of ICEMST 2025-- International Conference on Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology (pp. 21-33), Antalya, Turkiye. ISTES. Introduction In the era of Industrial Revolution 5.0, education faces big challenges to create human resources that are able to adapt to technological developments (Wenno et al., 2022) Development science and technology are very rapid (Busaka et al., 2022) . In the 21st century, there are 4 skills that generation z needs to have, namely critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication (Aiman et al., 2020) . One of them, critical thinking, involves a systematic and directed thought process to form beliefs and take organized action such as problem solving, decision making, analysis and research (Hake, 1998) . These skills not only help students in solving complex problems, but also enable them to think logically and make informed decisions. In the context of physics education, critical thinking is very necessary to understand abstract concepts and apply them in various real situations (Fitriyah & Ramadani, 2021) . However, in reality, the current education system still tends to be less effective in developing students' critical thinking skills. Teachercentered learning with conventional teaching methods often makes students passive and less involved in the learning process (Phonna et al., 2020) . This results in students' low critical thinking abilities, especially in lessons that require a deep understanding of concepts such as physics. The guided inquiry learning model is one solution to overcome this problem. This model involves students actively in the process of searching and discovering knowledge through data collection and hypothesis generation (Putr

FAQs

What learning model is analyzed and what effect does it target?

The document analyzes the guided inquiry learning model, aiming to improve students’ critical thinking abilities in science learning.

How does the study conduct the review?

It uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with PRISMA to select and synthesize relevant scientific articles.

What criteria are used to validate and select the included articles?

Selection is based on open access availability, research methodology quality, topic relevance, and references from the last five years.

Oct 15, 2026

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