The students’ approach patterns in thermodynamic problem-solving at SMA lab school UNTAD Palu

Abstract

Abstract The process of problem-solving carried out by students in solving physics exercises consists of different approaches. It is reviewed based on the diversity of students’ ability levels in solving problems in physics subject. This study aims to describe the approach patterns used by students in the process of solving physics problems on the thermodynamic material at Senior High School Lab school UNTAD Palu. This type of research is qualitative research with a qualitative descriptive approach. The subjects in this study were 20 students of Grade XI Science 3 at Senior High Scool Labchool UNTAD Palu. Respondents in this study consisted of up to 6 students. The respondents were selected using the calculation of standard deviation and the average score of the results of the respondent selection test. The instruments used in this study were respondent selection tests, problem-solving tests, and interview guides. From the results of the research for the test of students’ physics, the problem-solving ability was in the poor category with the acquisition of an average value percentage of 37.3%. Meanwhile, the approach patterns used by the students in the physics problem-solving process was interesting as it tended to use two approaches, namely structured Plug and Chug, as well as unstructured Plug and Chug.