Analysis of Science Problem-Solving Ability on Force Material Reviewed from the Personality Types of Eighth-Grade Students at SMP Negeri 3 Batanghari
DOI:
10.29303/jppipa.v11i9.12049Published:
2025-09-25Downloads
Abstract
Scientific problem-solving is a core competency in science education, yet students frequently struggle to apply it effectively. This study aims to analyze junior high school students’ science problem-solving abilities in relation to personality types within an Indonesian context, specifically at SMP Negeri 3 Batanghari. A qualitative case study approach was employed, involving 12 students categorized into four personality types—sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic—based on psychological assessment, interviews, and classroom observations. Data were collected through science problem-solving tasks, classroom observation, and the think-aloud protocol during task completion. Thematic analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusions, supported by source and method triangulation to ensure credibility. Findings reveal that personality types significantly influence problem-solving strategies and efficiency. Sanguine students tend to solve problems quickly but with lower accuracy, while melancholic students demonstrate high precision but slower progress. Choleric learners exhibit assertive and goal-oriented approaches, whereas phlegmatic students show consistent yet hesitant performance. The study concludes that differentiating science instruction based on students’ psychological characteristics can enhance the effectiveness of problem-solving skill development. These insights support the need for personalized pedagogical strategies in science classrooms.
Keywords:
Junior high school students Personality types Science problem-solving skills Science education think-aloud protocolReferences
Akyuz, Y. (2020). Personalized Learning in Education. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS), 69(1), 175–194. Retrieved from https://www.asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/5833
Al-Amin, Y., & Hartono. (2024). How Multimedia Learning Enhances Students’ Mathematical Creativity in Science Education: A Meta-Analysis Study. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 10(5), 234–241. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v10i5.5273
Bolden, B., DeLuca, C., Kukkonen, T., Roy, S., & Wearing, J. (2020). Assessment of Creativity in K‐12 Education: A Scoping Review. Review of Education, 8(2), 343–376. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3188
Carli, M., & Pantano, O. (2023). Collaborative physics teachers: Enhancing the use of the laboratory through action research in a community of learners. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 19(2), 20162. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.19.020162
Chamorro-Premuzic, T., Furnham, A., & Lewis, M. (2007). Personality and approaches to learning predict preference for different teaching methods. Learning and Individual Differences, 17(3), 241–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2006.12.001
Chen, M., & Lin, Y. (2018). Personality and problem-solving styles in science learning: A cross-cultural analysis. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 27(4), 332–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-018-9721-3
Chomsun, S., Pratiwi, D., & Rosa, F. O. (2024). Membangun Literasi Sains Melalui Pengembangan E-LKPD Berbasis Socio-Scientific Issues. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran IPA Indonesia, 14(3), 98–109. Retrieved from https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/JPPII/article/view/84747
Darling-Hammond, L., Flook, L., Cook-Harvey, C., Barron, B., & Osher, D. (2020). Implications for educational practice of the science of learning and development. Applied Developmental Science, 24(2), 97–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1537791
DeCoster, J., Iselin, A. M. R., & Gallucci, M. (2009). A Conceptual and Empirical Examination of Justifications for Dichotomization. Psychological Methods, 14(4), 349–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016956
Eysenck, H. J. (1967). The biological basis of personality. Springfield: Charles C Thomas.
Fonjungo, P. N., Kebede, Y., Arneson, W., Tefera, D., Yimer, K., Kinde, S., Alem, M., Cheneke, W., Mitiku, H., Tadesse, E., Tsegaye, A., & Kenyon, T. (2013). Preservice laboratory education strengthening enhances sustainable laboratory workforce in Ethiopia. Human Resources for Health, 11(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-11-56
Hakimi, S., Hejazi, E., & Lavasani, M. G. (2011). The relationships between personality traits and students’ academic achievement. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 29(January), 836–845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.11.312
Hodson, D. (2014). Learning Science, Learning about Science, Doing Science: Different goals demand different learning methods. International Journal of Science Education, 36(15), 2534–2553. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2014.899722
House, J. D. (2021). Cognitive engagement and problem-solving in science learning: The role of individual differences. Research in Science Education, 51(1), 137–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-018-9760-4
Irwin, J. R., & McClelland, G. H. (2003). Negative consequences of dichotomizing continuous predictor variables. Journal of Marketing Research, 40(3), 366–371. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.40.3.366.19237
Jessee, S. A., O’Neill, P. N., & Dosch, R. O. (2006). Matching Student Personality Types and Learning Preferences to Teaching Methodologies. Journal of Dental Education, 70(6), 644–651. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2006.70.6.tb04120.x
Johnson, D., & Johnson, R. (2019). Cooperative learning in STEM education: A meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 27, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2019.01.001
Kartika, K., Yurniwati Yurniwati, & Karsih. (2024). The Impact Project Based Learning of Animation-Assisted Videos on the Capability for Creative Thinking in Light of Self Efficacy. Jurnal Elementaria Edukasia, 7(2), 2837–2848. https://doi.org/10.31949/jee.v7i2.9305
Karwasz, G. P., & Wyborska, K. (2023). How Constructivist Environment Changes Perception of Learning: Physics Is Fun. Education Sciences, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020195
Mayer, R. E. (2010). Thinking, problem solving, cognition (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman.
Patton, M. (2021). Creative Efficacy Toolbox: Introducing a Professional Development Model for Creatives. In College Music Symposium (Vol. 61, pp. 76–85). https://doi.org/10.18177/sym.2020.61.1.sr.11518
Pentury, H. J., Anggraeni, A. D., & Pratama, D. (2020). Improving Students’ 21st Century Skills Through Creative Writing as A Creative Media. Deiksis, 12(02), 164. https://doi.org/10.30998/deiksis.v12i02.5184
Polya, G. (1945). How to solve it: A new aspect of mathematical method. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Prabayanti, E., & Setiawan, T. (2024). Analysis of Students’ Critical Thinking Abilities in. Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika, 12(3), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.26618/jpf.v12i3.15317
Reber, R., Canning, E. A., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2018). Personalized Education to Increase Interest. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(6), 449–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721418793140
Rosa, F. O., Aththibby, A. R., & A’yun, D. Q. (2023). Piil Pesenggiri Team Work Learning Model for Collaborative Problem-Solving Skills of Junior High School Students. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(4), 2259–2264. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i4.2098
Rosa, F. O., Mundilarto, & Wilujeng, I. (2020). The conception of local wisdom value of Piil Pesenggiri (Indonesia) and scientific attitudes. Revista ESPACIOS, 41(30), 259–268. Retrieved from https://www.revistaespacios.com
Rosa, F., Rosa, F. O., & Aththibby, A. R. (2021). Exploring Collaborative Problem-Solving Competency of Junior High School Students. Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika, 9(3), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.26618/jpf.v9i3.5856
Ruiz-Mallén, I., Heras, M., & Berrens, K. (2021). Responsible research and innovation in science education: insights from evaluating the impact of using digital media and arts-based methods on RRI values. Research in Science and Technological Education, 39(3), 263–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/02635143.2020.1763289
Smolyaninova, O., & Bezyzvestnykh, E. (2019). Implementing teachers’ training technologies at a Federal University: E-portfolio, digital laboratory, PROLog module system. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 15(4), 69–87. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v15i04.9288
Tang, X., Deng, F., Zhang, Y., & Chen, D. (2020). Assessing scientific problem-solving ability in authentic classroom settings. International Journal of Science Education, 42(5), 745–765. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2020.1718782
Tetzlaff, L., Schmiedek, F., & Brod, G. (2021). Developing Personalized Education: A Dynamic Framework. Educational Psychology Review, 33(3), 863–882. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09570-w
Widodo, A., Riandi, R., & Feranie, S. (2022). Challenges in implementing student-centered learning in Indonesian science classrooms. International Journal of Science Education, 44(1), 87–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.2007432
Wirth, A., & Repnik, R. (2015). Analysis of learning by doing in the creation of instructional video in teaching optics. International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics, MIPRO 2015 - Proceedings, 38(May), 800–803. https://doi.org/10.1109/MIPRO.2015.7160380
Wulandari, M., Rodriguez, E. V., & Afrianda, S. (2024). Analysis of High School Students’ Creativity Ability in Solving Physics Problems. EduFisika: Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika, 9(1), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.59052/edufisika.v9i1.29637
Yunarti, N. (2021). Analisa Kesulitan Dalam Pembelajaran IPA Pada Siswa SMP Negeri 1 Rambang. Jurnal Educatio FKIP UNMA, 7(4), 1745–1749. https://doi.org/10.31949/educatio.v7i4.1570
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Friska Octavia Rosa, Ema Dwi Hastuti, Dedy Hidayatullah Alarifin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY License). This license allows authors to use all articles, data sets, graphics, and appendices in data mining applications, search engines, web sites, blogs, and other platforms by providing an appropriate reference. The journal allows the author(s) to hold the copyright without restrictions and will retain publishing rights without restrictions.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).





