Controversial issues require students to analyse information critically, discuss different perspectives, and develop views on important questions. The problem-based learning model (PBL) allows learners to gain insights from various perspectives and apply the knowledge acquired to different situations. This mixed-method study aims to examine the effect of problem scenarios and argumentation activities on students' academic achievement and argumentation quality by addressing a controversial issue in the context of PBL in the fourth-grade social studies course in primary school. The cultural dimension of globalisation was chosen as the controversial issue. The findings revealed that problem scenarios and argumentation activities with the controversial issue in the context of PBL positively affected students' academic achievement and improved their argumentation quality.