Effectiveness Of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) On Students' Critical Thinking Skills In History Learning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30605/jsgp.9.1.2026.8008Keywords:
Project-Based Learning, Critical Thinking, History Learning, quasi-experimental designAbstract
Critical thinking is a key 21st-century skill that is important to develop in the learning process, including in history lessons. However, history teaching practices in schools are still dominated by conventional teacher-centered methods, limiting opportunities for students to hone their critical thinking skills. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model in improving the critical thinking skills of 11th grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Alalak. This study uses a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design of the Nonequivalent Control Group Design type. The sample consisted of 62 students, namely class XI-2 as the experimental group and XI-5 as the control group, which were determined through purposive sampling techniques. The research instrument was an essay test based on Anderson and Krathwohl's (2001) critical thinking indicators. Data were obtained through pretest and posttest, then analyzed using descriptive statistics, normality test, homogeneity test, paired sample t-test, and independent sample t-test with the help of SPSS 27. The results showed that both groups experienced an increase, with a greater increase in the experimental group (M = 6.94; d = 0.87) compared to the control group (M = 4.19; d = 0.41). The independent sample t-test showed the effectiveness of PjBL on critical thinking skills (p = 0.004). Although the effect size was moderate, PjBL indicated superiority in strengthening critical thinking skills. However, its effectiveness was influenced by the learning context, student motivation, and school support.
References
Agustian, A., & Sanusi, W. (2024). Literature Review: Implementasi Strategi Pembelajaran Berbasis Proyek (PBL) dalam Konteks Siswa Abad ke-21. AL-IBANAH, 9(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.54801/ibanah.v9i1.253
Ain, I. Q., Sutarja, M. C., Tamam, B., Wulandari, A. Y. R., & Rakhmawan, A. (2025). Development of Interactive Media Based on the SETS Approach to Enhance Students’ Learning Outcomes. Jurnal Literasi Digital, 5(2), 159–169. https://doi.org/10.54065/jld.5.2.2025.876
Anggraini, P. D., & Wulandari, S. S. (2021). Analisis penggunaan model pembelajaran project based learning dalam peningkatan keaktifan siswa. Jurnal Pendidikan Administrasi Perkantoran (JPAP), 9(2), 292-299. https://doi.org/10.26740/jpap.v9n2.p292-299
Aprilliyah, F., Indrawati, C. F. S., & Rohmah, D. (2024). Teori Belajar Taksonomi Bloom dan Implementasinya dalam Pembelajaran. Jurnal Pengembangan dan Evaluasi Pendidikan, 1(3), 137-142. https://doi.org/10.61692/jpep.v1i3.370
Chiang, C. L., & Lee, H. (2016). The effect of project-based learning on learning motivation and problem-solving ability of vocational high school students. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 6(9), 709-712. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIET.2016.V6.779
Emzir. (2019). Metodologi Penelitian Pendidikan Kuantitatif Dan Kualitatif Edisi Revisi. Rajawali Pers.
Evitasari, O., & Santosa, Y. B. P. (2022). Ragam Metode Pembelajaran Kontekstual untuk Pembelajaran Sejarah. Estoria: Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 3(1), 398-413. https://doi.org/10.30998/je.v3i1.1309
Fridayanti, L. A., & Tirtoni, F. (2025). Implementation of Differentiated Learning Assisted by Digital Flipbook to Improve Critical Thinking Ability of Elementary Students in Pancasila Education. Jurnal Studi Guru Dan Pembelajaran, 8(1), 351–361. https://doi.org/10.30605/jsgp.8.1.2025.5580
Han, S., Capraro, R., & Capraro, M. M. (2015). How science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) project-based learning (PBL) affects high, middle, and low achievers differently: The impact of student factors on achievement. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 13(5), 1089-1113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-014-9526-0
Janna, N. M., & Herianto, H. (2021). Konsep uji validitas dan reliabilitas dengan menggunakan SPSS
Kokotsaki, D., Menzies, V., & Wiggins, A. (2016). Project-based learning: A review of the literature. Improving schools, 19(3), 267-277. https://doi.org/10.1177/1365480216659
Lim, S. W., Jawawi, R., Jaidin, J. H., & Roslan, R. (2023). Learning History through Project-Based Learning. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 17(1), 67-75. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v17i1.20398
Lismayani, L., Kamid, K., & Yantoro, Y. (2025). The Effect of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) On Critical Thinking Skills as Seen from Cognitive Styles. Journal of Mathematics Instruction, Social Research and Opinion, 4(3), 981-990. https://doi.org/10.58421/misro.v4i3.711
Mekarsari, R. D., & Suprijono, A. (2019). Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Project Based Learning Terhadap Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Siswa Kelas Xi Ips Mata Pelajaran Sejarah Di Sma Negeri Kabuh, Jombang. Avatara: Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah, 8(2). https://ejournal.unesa.ac.id/index.php/avatara
Nursaya’bani, K. K., Falasifah, F., & Iskandar, S. (2025). Strategi pengembangan pembelajaran abad ke-21: Mengintegrasikan kreativitas, kolaborasi, dan teknologi. JIIP-Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 8(1), 109-116. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v8i1.6470
Paat, M., Sompotan, A. F., Pesik, A., Mokalu, Y. B., & Moroki, I. (2024). Penerapan multimedia pembelajaran berbasis masalah dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar dan keterampilan berpikir tingkat tinggi. Jurnal Pendidikan MIPA, 14(1), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.37630/jpm.v14i1.1493
Sugiyono, D. (2019). Metode Penelitian Pendidikan Pendekatan Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Sularmi, S., Utomo, D. H., & Ruja, I. N. (2018). Pengaruh project-based learning terhadap kemampuan berpikir kritis (Doctoral dissertation, State University of Malang).
Susanta, A., & Susanto, E. (2020). Efektivitas project based learning terhadap kemampuan pemecahan masalah dan berpikir kritis mahasiswa. Jurnal Theorems, 5(1), 61-68. https://doi.org/10.31949/th.v5i1.2219
Syahri, A. A., & Ahyana, N. (2021). Analisis kemampuan berpikir tingkat tinggi menurut teori anderson dan krathwohl. Jurnal Riset Dan Inovasi Pembelajaran, 1(1), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.51574/jrip.v1i1.16
Williamson, E. (2023). The effectiveness of project-based learning in developing critical thinking skills among high school students. European Journal of Education, 1(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/103.144.227.196
Zulfannur, Z., Anifah, L., & Buditjahjanto, I. G. P. A. (2024). Pengaruh Problem Solving Skill dalam Model Pembelajaran Project Based Learning terhadap Hasil Belajar Siswa Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan. Jurnal Studi Guru Dan Pembelajaran, 7(1), 409–418. https://doi.org/10.30605/jsgp.7.1.2024.3972
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Octavian Hendra Priyatno, Anisa Pitriani, Heri Susanto, Dewica Fatma Nadilla, Fathurrahman Fathurrahman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
In submitting the manuscript to the journal, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- That its publication has been approved by all the author(s) and by the responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
License and Copyright Agreement
Authors who publish with JSGP agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
