Factors of inhibit the mathematical critical thinking process of junior high school students

Abstract

Students had difficulty in thinking critically mathematically. In faced of problems of simple shapes on plane geometry, students had difficulty in solving them. This is caused students had less able to think critically mathematically. Indicators of mathematical critical thinking in this study included clarification, assessment, inference, and strategies. First of all, a test was carried out on 25 students in one class, grade VIII MTsN 1 Temanggung. The average critical thinking ability is 62 (in interval 0-100). Furthermore, the research subject were selected 6 students representing the entire class, a more in-depth study was conducted through interviews. Based on the results of the thinking process in solving problems showed that students were low level in mathematical critical thinking due to: students feeling satisfied with the answered of problems; did not checking his/her work; did not accustomed to practice thinking deeply in solving problems; lacked of mastery of the concepts contained in the problems; and had difficulties in connecting between concepts.