Critical thinking skills and self-confidence of high school students in learning mathematics

Abstract

This study aims to determine the mathematical critical thinking skills and the level of self-confidence of high school students in solving vector problems. Mathematical critical thinking skills and self-confidence are basic capital that students must have, so students are confident in solving each vector problem based on critical thinking processes. The type of this research was a qualitative descriptive. Participants in this study were high school students of class X IPA in a public high school in Cimahi city, consisting of 30 students who were determined by purposive sampling technique. The instruments in this study were researchers as the main instruments and supporting instruments, namely a test of mathematical critical thinking skills, a self-confidence questionnaire, and an interview guideline. The results are students have low critical thinking skills and medium self-confidence. The low of critical thinking is indicated by students unable to provide reasons, evaluate answers and identify data/concepts/definitions. Suggestions for further research are habituation of students with mathematical critical thinking skills.