Introduction and goal:Curiosity, as one of the fundamental components of learning psychology, plays a key role in enhancing intrinsic motivation, deep processing, and active learner engagement, and in science education it can contribute to improving the quality of learning. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between curiosity, problem-solving skills, and science learning among elementary school students in Bandar Kolahi
Research methodology: Research Methodology: The method of this research was a descriptive correlational type and the data collection tool was a standard questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed by previous research. In this research, data were collected from 30 students (15 boys and 15 girls) of Imam Khomeini boys' and Saadi girls' schools in Bandar-e-Kolahi. Problem-solving skills were 53.60 (SD=2.677) and learning of experimental sciences were 15.84 (SD=9.64). The Shapiro-Wilk test showed that the distribution was normal; therefore, the use of parametric statistical tests was appropriate. Accordingly, the Pearson correlation test was used to examine the relationships between variables and the ANOVA test was used in SPSS software to compare the means between fourth- to sixth-grade students.
Findings: The results indicated a strong and positive relationship between curiosity and problem-solving skills. In contrast, no significant relationships were found between curiosity and science learning, nor between problem-solving skills and science learning. Furthermore, the ANOVA results showed no significant differences across grade levels in curiosity, problem-solving skills, or science learning.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that while curiosity plays an important role in enhancing cognitive abilities, particularly problem-solving skills, its direct impact on science learning requires targeted educational interventions, inquiry-based learning environments, and more precise assessment tools. Accordingly, the design of curricula and innovative teaching methods that foster curiosity can strengthen students’ engagement, critical thinking, and deeper learning in science.