PROFILE OF STUDENT’S REFLECTIVE THINKING IN SOLVING PISA MATHEMATICS PROBLEMS BASED ON GENDER DIFFERENCES

Abstract

Reflective thinking ability is important in solving problems so students can easily determine the right strategy
to solve problems using the knowledge and experience they have. Reflective thinking is an activity or mental
process using knowledge or experience with an awareness of what is known and needed that is done
repeatedly and with full consideration of beliefs supported by clear reasons to find a decision or solve a
problem. This study uses four stages of reflective thinking which include (1) describing experiences based
on problems, (2) elaborating experiences to form a solution strategy, (3) analyzing experiences based on
solutions, and (4) evaluating experiences based on the solutions. The purpose of this study is to describe the
reflective thinking profile of male and female middle school students in solving PISA mathematics problems.
The participant of this research are male and female students of grade VIII in Surabaya. The method used in
this study is a qualitative explorative descriptive study. The results showed that at the stage of describing
experiences based on problems, male and female students use their experiences in solving problems. In the
stage of elaborating experience to form a strategy for solving, male students specifically identify
mathematical concepts contained in the problem, male and female students choose the right formula and
strategy to solve the problem. At the stage of analyzing experiences based on resolution, male and female
students explain the answers given, male students mention strengths and weaknesses related to problem
solving. In the stage of evaluating experience based on the solutions, male and female students state the
reasons why the answers given have answered the problem, female students test whether the solution done
has answered the problem.