Critical thinking skills of junior high school students in solving geometry problems

Abstract

This study aims to describe the critical thinking skills of junior high school (SMP) students in solving geometry problems. A descriptive qualitative approach was used, involving six eighth-grade students selected through purposive sampling. The subjects consisted of two students from each category of mathematical ability: high (  & ), medium (  & ), and low (  & ). The six students were selected based on their performance in the written test and their verbal communication skills, as observed during the pre-research phase, to ensure a more accurate representation of the population. Data were collected through written tests consisting of two essay questions and semi-structured interview guidelines developed based on Facione’s critical thinking indicators: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference. The research data collected were written test results and interviews, which were then analyzed based on critical thinking indicators. The results showed that interpretation was the indicator most easily achieved by all subjects, analysis was optimally achieved only by students with high mathematical ability, while evaluation and inference were the most difficult indicators to fulfill. The study concludes that students’ critical thinking skills in solving geometry problems are generally low, primarily because of insufficient mastery of the underlying material.