Analysis of 7th Grade Student’s Mathematical Understanding in Solving Sets Problem: A Perspective of Skemp Understanding Theory

Abstract

The key word to success in learning mathematics is mathematical understanding. Mathematical understanding is very important because it can train students' ability to relate one concept to another. Skemp states that understanding was divided into two types, there were instrumental understanding and relational understanding. The purpose of this study was to describe the mathematical understanding of 7th grade junior high school students in solving set problems based on Skemp's theory of understanding. The type of research used is qualitative research with a descriptive approach. Subject selection using purposive sampling technique. The subjects in this study were three grade VII students who were divided into three categories of high, medium and low ability. The data were obtained using a mathematical understanding test and interviews. Data analysis was carried out in stages, there were data collection, data reduction, data analysis, and drawing conclusions. The results showed that a student with high ability has good mathematical understanding because she can fulfill most of the indicators of understanding, where she being able to understand the questions well so that she can analyze the questions and solve the questions given. Meanwhile, students with moderate and low abilities have poor understanding of mathematics, where students cannot understand the purpose of the problem properly. The indicators that are met are only indicators of grouping objects based on needs and providing examples of concepts.