Place-based Socioscientific Issues Approach to Enhance Prospective Natural Sciences Teachers’ Critical Reasoning
- 1Biology Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Tanjungpura, Jl. Prof. Dr. H. Hadari Nawawi, Pontianak, West Kalimantan 78124, Indonesia
- 2Curriculum and Instruction Department, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, 1954 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States of America
Abstract
Critical reasoning plays a crucial role in analyzing and evaluating available information and in formulating appropriate solutions to issues arising in communities today. This role can be enhanced through a place-based socioscientific issues (SSI) approach. This study aims to enhance prospective natural sciences teachers’ critical reasoning through a place-based SSI approach in West Kalimantan in two contexts: the use of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) and tuak (rice wine). This study employed a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group pretest–posttest design and involved 64 students at Universitas Tanjungpura. Data were collected using a test comprising critical reasoning dimensions: information evaluation, complexity identification, information sources credibility assessment, and multiperspective. The profile of prospective natural sciences teachers’ critical reasoning showed improvement across all dimensions. The effectiveness of the place-based SSI approach showed a statistically significant improvement (p-value < 0.05) on the dimensions of complexity identification (large effect size), information sources credibility assessment (medium effect size), and multiperspective (medium effect size). The information evaluation dimension was insignificantly different (p-value > 0.05), despite a medium effect size. The findings show that a place-based SSI approach is effective for enhancing prospective natural sciences teachers’ critical reasoning. This study strengthens the SSI-based learning literature, develops scientifically literate citizens, and increases the quality of teacher education programs. Furthermore, this study contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), by increasing the number of individuals with the skills necessary to navigate the ever-changing times and by enhancing the quality of prospective natural sciences teachers in West Kalimantan.
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BibTeX
@article{yokhebed2026placebased,
title = {{Place-based Socioscientific Issues Approach to Enhance Prospective Natural Sciences Teachers’ Critical Reasoning}},
author = {Yokhebed Yokhebed and Mas Akhbar Faturrahman and Eka Ariyati and Reni Marlina and Erwina Oktavianty},
journal = {Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology \& Biology Education},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2.53747},
url = {https://doi.org/10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2.53747},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Place-based Socioscientific Issues Approach to Enhance Prospective Natural Sciences Teachers’ Critical Reasoning
AU - Yokhebed Yokhebed
AU - Mas Akhbar Faturrahman
AU - Eka Ariyati
AU - Reni Marlina
AU - Erwina Oktavianty
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology & Biology Education
DO - 10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2.53747
UR - https://doi.org/10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2.53747
AB - Critical reasoning plays a crucial role in analyzing and evaluating available information and in formulating appropriate solutions to issues arising in communities today. This role can be enhanced through a place-based socioscientific issues (SSI) approach. This study aims to enhance prospective natural sciences teachers’ critical reasoning through a place-based SSI approach in West Kalimantan in two contexts: the use of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) and tuak (rice wine). This study employed a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group pretest–posttest design and involved 64 students at Universitas Tanjungpura. Data were collected using a test comprising critical reasoning dimensions: information evaluation, complexity identification, information sources credibility assessment, and multiperspective. The profile of prospective natural sciences teachers’ critical reasoning showed improvement across all dimensions. The effectiveness of the place-based SSI approach showed a statistically significant improvement (p-value < 0.05) on the dimensions of complexity identification (large effect size), information sources credibility assessment (medium effect size), and multiperspective (medium effect size). The information evaluation dimension was insignificantly different (p-value > 0.05), despite a medium effect size. The findings show that a place-based SSI approach is effective for enhancing prospective natural sciences teachers’ critical reasoning. This study strengthens the SSI-based learning literature, develops scientifically literate citizens, and increases the quality of teacher education programs. Furthermore, this study contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), by increasing the number of individuals with the skills necessary to navigate the ever-changing times and by enhancing the quality of prospective natural sciences teachers in West Kalimantan.
SN - 2085-191X
SN - 2338-7610
ER -