Physics vs Mathematics teacher candidates’ grit trait level: A case study of Universitas Negeri Semarang undergraduate students

Abstract

The success of college students is traditionally predicted by a standard assessment of academic, cognitive ability. However, there is much evidence that their success is strongly influenced by non-cognitive academic ability, one of which is a grit trait level. This study aims to provide an overview of physics and mathematics student teacher candidates’ grit trait level at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) who are taking Introductory Physics courses. This research is descriptive research with survey and relational model approach. The samples that participated in this study were 91 students consisting of 49 undergraduate students on physics education program and 42 students from mathematics education program. The grit trait level consists of two dimensions: “consistency of interest” and “perseverance of effort.” Grit trait data was obtained using a Short Grit (S-Grit) scale instrument that has been translated into Indonesian and has been tested for its validity and internal consistency. The results showed that student teacher candidates’ grit trait was at a moderate level (3.28). In the dimension of consistency is at a moderate level (2.88), while the dimension of perseverance is at a high degree (3.68). Also, there was a significant difference in the students’ grit trait level by gender factors. Female students tend to have a higher grit trait level than male students. However, there is no significant difference in students’ grit trait level from Physics Education and Mathematics Education.