Analysis of Student Problem-Solving Skills on Static Fluid Topics

Abstract

Finding high school students' Problem-Solving Skills (PSS) on static fluid is the aim of this study. A sample of 125 students from a high school in East Java, Indonesia, was employed in this quantitative study employing a survey methodology. The Problem-Solving Skills Test (Cronbarch's Alpha reliability of 0.66), which consists of six essay questions with a scoring range of 1 to 5, was used to collect the study data. The research data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The average PSS of the students according to the research results was 20.54 with the conversion of the PSS Test score to a scale of 0-100, placing them in the beginner category. According to the PSS indicators, the rank of students from highest to lowest level is Useful Description, Specific Application of Physics, Mathematical Procedures, Physics Approach, and Logical Progression. Students find that Archimedes' Law, Pascal's Law, and Hydrostatic Pressure are the most difficult static fluid subtopic to go through. It is highly recommended that learning methods that can support students' problem-solving skills, such as project-based learning in conjunction with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM), provide them with the skills to use logic in their thinking when solving problems.