فعالية برنامج تدريبي مستند إلى مهارات البحث المصورة لتطوير مهارات التفكير وفق المنطقة الحدية لدى طلاب الصف التاسع
The study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a training program based on pictorial research skills to develop ninth graders’ thinking skills in accordance to their zone of proximal development (ZPD). In order to answer the study question, the researcher designed an experimental program consisting of two equivalent groups: one control and one experimental. The total sample was 70 (35 control and 35 experimental) randomly selected students from Rafah Preparatory Boys School. The researcher used psychometrically treated tools: a training program based on pictorial research skills, zone of proximal development estimation scale, and thinking skills scale. The results revealed there were statistically significant differences at ( = 0.05) between the experimental and the control group participants in thinking skills in favor to the experimental one. These differences show the program was effective. In conclusion, the researcher recommended more studies to be carried out on pictorial researching skills and thinking skills to cover other age groups. The researcher, in addition, suggested other variables to be studied in relation to thinking skills. (Author's abstract)