Arts education and its role in enhancing cognitive development: A quantitative study of critical thinking and creativity in higher education

IF 1.8 3区心理学 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL

Cognitive Development Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1016/j.cogdev.2025.101544

Jian Li , Yufeng Qi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In recent years, the significance of arts education in enhancing cognitive growth and supporting academic success in higher education has gained increasing attention. However, there remains a need for empirical research to comprehensively examine the specific impact of arts education on critical thinking, creativity, communication skills, attention, and overall holistic development among college students. This study employs a quantitative approach to explore how arts education influences cognitive development and academic performance among college students. Utilizing a purposive sampling technique, participants were selected to represent diverse levels of engagement in arts education. The study gathered data using a structured questionnaire aimed at assessing students' involvement in arts education, cognitive growth, and academic achievement. Out of 456 questionnaires distributed, 410 were completed and deemed valid, yielding a response rate of around 90 %. Analysis of the collected data using SPSS software revealed significant associations between arts education and cognitive development. Specifically, results indicate a strong positive correlation between arts education and critical thinking skills, suggesting that active participation in arts-based activities fosters deeper analytical abilities among college students. Additionally, findings demonstrate that engagement in arts activities promotes creative problem-solving skills, enhancing students' adaptability and innovation in academic pursuits. Overall, this research provides novel evidence of the transformative potential of arts education in shaping well-rounded individuals capable of thriving in academic and creative pursuits, thereby informing educational practices and policies aimed at fostering holistic student development.

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艺术教育及其在促进认知发展中的作用：高等教育中批判性思维和创造力的定量研究

近年来，在高等教育中，艺术教育在促进认知成长和支持学业成功方面的意义越来越受到关注。然而，艺术教育对大学生批判性思维、创造力、沟通能力、注意力和整体发展的具体影响还需要实证研究来全面考察。本研究采用定量方法探讨艺术教育对大学生认知发展及学业表现的影响。利用有目的的抽样技术，参与者被选择代表不同程度的参与艺术教育。该研究使用结构化问卷收集数据，旨在评估学生参与艺术教育、认知成长和学业成就。在发放的456份问卷中，410份完成并被认为有效，回复率约为90% %。使用SPSS软件对收集的数据进行分析，发现艺术教育与认知发展之间存在显著关联。具体而言，研究结果表明，艺术教育与批判性思维技能之间存在很强的正相关关系，这表明积极参与艺术活动可以培养大学生更深入的分析能力。此外，研究结果显示，参与艺术活动可以提高学生解决问题的能力，增强学生在学术追求上的适应能力和创新能力。总的来说，这项研究提供了新的证据，证明艺术教育在塑造能够在学术和创造性追求中蓬勃发展的全面发展的个人方面具有变革潜力，从而为旨在促进学生全面发展的教育实践和政策提供信息。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Cognitive Development Multiple-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

5.60%

发文量

114

期刊介绍： Cognitive Development contains the very best empirical and theoretical work on the development of perception, memory, language, concepts, thinking, problem solving, metacognition, and social cognition. Criteria for acceptance of articles will be: significance of the work to issues of current interest, substance of the argument, and clarity of expression. For purposes of publication in Cognitive Development, moral and social development will be considered part of cognitive development when they are related to the development of knowledge or thought processes.