This study, in which motivation level is preferred as a mediating variable, is aimed to examine the relationship between pre-service teachers' inquisitive thinking skills and problem-solving skills. In this context, the survey method was used, one of the quantitative research methods. A total of 205 teacher candidates studying in different departments of a state university and at different grade levels participated in the research. The study group was determined using the random sampling method. In addition, gender, grade level, motivation level, and mentality level were also examined as sub-variables. Research data were collected online via "Google Forms". As a data collection tool; "Inquiry Skills Scale" prepared by Aldan-Karademir and Saracaloğlu (2013), -Sahin ve ark. (1993) adapted into Turkish- "Problem-Solving Inventory" prepared by Heppner (1988) "Teacher Motivation Scale" prepared by Kılıç and Yılmaz (2019) were used. Within the scope of the research, independent samples t-test was used to analyze two-category variables such as gender and cognitive level. The one-way ANOVA test was used to analyze variables with three or more categories, such as grade level, department, and motivation level. Hayes's (2018) regression model number 4 was used to examine the mediating effect of the motivation variable. SPSS 25 statistical program and Process Macro plugin were used to analyze the data. As a result of the research, there is no significant difference in any scale in terms of gender variable. There is a significant difference in all scales regarding a grade-level variable. According to the department variable, there is a significant difference only in problem-solving skills. In terms of motivation level, there is a significant difference in the inquisitive thinking and motivation scales. When examined in terms of mentality level, it was determined that there was no significant difference in all scales. As a result of the regression analysis, only the grade level variable creates a significant difference. It was observed that the variables of gender, motivation, cognitive level and, the department did not create a significant difference.

Inquisitive thinking skills, Problem-solving skills, Motivation level, Mediation effect