Analysis of student argumentation skills on static fluid topics

Abstract

Argumentation skills can be seen from the activities of students when thinking about working on the questions so that ideas can be analyzed through writing. This study aims to an analysis of student argumentation skills on the static fluid topic. The sample used in this study was 24 students in physics programs Sebelas Maret University, who were taking basic physics courses. Data on argumentation skills were obtained through test techniques, then scored with a 4 category polytomous scale. The test instrument was developed based on an argumentation scheme of 10 items consisting of five aspects of argumentation skills claims, data, warrant, backing, and qualifier. The estimation results of test reliability with Quest show that the value of person reliability is 0.77, and the reliability item is 0.70. It can be concluded that the consistency of the answers from either the testee or the items in the instrument used to have high reliability. The results of data analysis students’ argumentation skills on static fluid material indicate that student argumentation is still low, that is on the data aspect, qualifier, and warrant. Argumentation skills are strongly influenced by understanding concepts, that is on concepts in a static fluid material.