The Effect of Case Study-Based Instruction on the Development of Creative Thinking in Social Studies Course

This study aimed to investigate the impact of case study-based instruction on creative thinking in the social studies course for fifth-grade students. The research was conducted using a mixed-method embedded experimental design. It involved a study group of 60 fifth-grade students attending a public secondary school on the European side of Istanbul. The research was conducted during the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year and took a total of 12 class hours, with 3 hours per week. The study followed mixed-method research procedures, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The Creative Thinking Scale was used to collect quantitative data, while the students' diaries provided qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), while qualitative data were subjected to descriptive analysis. The data analysis concluded that the teaching practice based on case study-based instruction significantly improved the creative thinking skills of the students. It can be inferred from these findings that case study-based instruction can be an effective tool to foster creativity in students.