Collaborative problem-solving significantly improves students' critical thinking overall (ES = 0.82)¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesisr2·q3·i2medium
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
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This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i2 Across 79 effect quantities from 36 studies, collaborative problem-solving has a statistically significant positive overall effect on students' critical thinking (ES = 0.82, 95% CI [0.69, 0.95]). → Xu 2023
Evidence¶
Xu 2023¶
Xu, E., Wang, W., & Wang, Q. (2023). The effectiveness of collaborative problem solving in promoting students' critical thinking: A meta-analysis based on empirical literature. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01508-1
q3 · i2 · quant-synthesis · r2
Random-effects meta-analysis of 79 effect quantities from 36 experimental or quasi-experimental studies published 2000–2021, analyzed in Rev-Man 5.4. The pooled effect size was ES = 0.82, "statistically significant (z = 12.78, P < 0.01, 95% CI [0.69, 0.95])". Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 86%), requiring a random effect model.
"the cumulative impact size of cooperative problem-solving is 0.82, which is statistically significant (z = 12.78, P < 0.01, 95% CI [0.69, 0.95]), and can encourage learners to practice critical thinking."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Collaborative problem-solving improves attitudinal tendency (ES = 1.17) more than cognitive skills (ES = 0.70) — related
- Teacher-supported learning scaffolds show the largest effect (ES = 0.92), and longer intervention durations yield larger effects — related
- Teaching type, intervention duration, subject area, group size, and learning scaffold significantly moderate the effect of collaborative problem-solving on critical thinking — related
- Science-related subject areas (mathematics, science, medical science) show larger effects than programming technology and other fields — related
- Gen-AI has a moderate positive overall effect on students' higher-order thinking (g = 0.609) across 29 experimental and quasi-experimental studies — related
- Gen-AI's effect on HOT is strongest for problem-solving ability (g = 0.745), followed by critical thinking (g = 0.691), with a smaller effect on creativity (g = 0.444) — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
collaborative-problem-solving-improves-critical-thinking-overall |
title |
Collaborative problem-solving significantly improves students' critical thinking overall (ES = 0.82) |
description |
Collaborative problem-solving significantly improves students' critical thinking overall (ES = 0.82) |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2023 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-16 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — xu-2023 |
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