<![CDATA[ABSTRACT This research was conducted in response to the limited development of critical thinking abilities among elementary school students, particularly in learning activities related to character and characterization, which are still frequently dominated by teacher-centered instruction. Furthermore, empirical investigations concerning the application of the PQ4R strategy in Indonesian language instruction at the elementary education level remain relatively scarce. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of the PQ4R (Preview, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, Review) learning method on the critical thinking skills of fourth-grade students at SDN Bugih 1 Pamekasan. A quantitative method was applied using a one-group pretest–posttest research design involving 18 students selected through a total sampling technique. Research data were obtained through essay-based assessments and processed using the Shapiro–Wilk normality test and the sign test with SPSS software assistance. The findings demonstrated a noticeable enhancement in students’ critical thinking performance following the implementation of the PQ4R method, reflected in the higher posttest scores and a significance value of 0.000 (<0.05). These results suggest that PQ4R effectively facilitates students in interpreting, assessing, and formulating conclusions from information in a more organized and analytical manner. Consequently, the PQ4R approach may serve as an effective instructional alternative for strengthening cognitive participation and fostering critical thinking competencies in Indonesian language learning. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilakukan karena kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa sekolah dasar pada materi tokoh dan penokohan masih tergolong rendah, yang dipengaruhi oleh proses pembelajaran yang cenderung berorientasi pada guru. Di samping itu, kajian mengenai penerapan metode PQ4R dalam pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia di tingkat sekolah dasar belum banyak dilakukan secara mendalam. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh metode PQ4R (Preview, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, Review) terhadap kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa kelas IV SDN Bugih 1 Pamekasan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif dengan rancangan one group pretest-posttest yang melibatkan 18 siswa melalui teknik total sampling. Pengumpulan data dilakukan menggunakan tes uraian, kemudian dianalisis melalui uji Shapiro-Wilk dan sign test dengan bantuan SPSS. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan adanya peningkatan kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa setelah penerapan metode PQ4R, yang terlihat dari kenaikan skor posttest serta nilai signifikansi sebesar 0,000 (<0,05). Temuan tersebut menunjukkan bahwa metode PQ4R efektif dalam membantu siswa memahami, menelaah, serta menarik kesimpulan dari informasi secara lebih terstruktur. Oleh karena itu, metode PQ4R dapat dijadikan salah satu alternatif strategi pembelajaran untuk meningkatkan keterlibatan kognitif dan kemampuan berpikir kritis siswa pada pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia.]]>
