Engaging problems on trigonometry: Why were student hard to think critically?

Abstract

This research study aimed to determine the causes of difficulties for students to think critically in solving trigonometric problem. 29 first semester students of the UNISSULA mathematics education program participated in this study. Data collection techniques used mathematic test and unstructured interviews. The math test given is a trigonometric problem. The result of research indicated that there were four factors that caused the students difficult to think critically. Those four factors are lack of skepticism on math problem, learning of school mathematics that did not emphasize critical thinking, student ignorance about critical thinking, and motivation was limited only to solve math problems.