This study intended to clarify the realities of critical thinking of junior high school students in science learning as well as the factor structure influencing it. A 35-question survey was conducted on 663 1st- to 3rd-year junior high school students to achieve this end.
The results indicated that although there were no differences observed in "exploratory and rational thinking", "multi-faceted thinking" and "a feeling of healthy skepticism" as the realities of critical thinking, "reflective thinking" is not working as compared to the others. In addition, the causal relationship of "the more a student engages in exploratory and rational thinking, the more they engage in reflective thinking" was also clarified as a factor structure that influences the critical thinking of students. At the same time, the causal relationship of "the more a student engages in multi-faceted thinking, the more they engage in reflective thinking" was also clarified.