Review of Multidisciplinary Education, Culture and Pedagogy (ROMEO)
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): FEBRUARY

Mathematical Conceptual Understanding Profiles of Junior High School Students in Algebra Based on Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic Learning Styles

Rohyal Aini (Department of Mathematics Education, Faculty of Tarbiyah, Universitas Islam Negeri Mataram, Indonesia)
Lalu Sucipto (Department of Mathematics Education, Faculty of Tarbiyah, Universitas Islam Negeri Mataram, Indonesia)
Nurhardiani Nurhardiani (Department of Mathematics Education, Faculty of Tarbiyah, Universitas Islam Negeri Mataram, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
26 May 2026

Abstract

Mathematical conceptual understanding is a foundational competency in mathematics education, particularly in algebra at the junior high school level. Many students struggle with algebraic concepts, a difficulty believed to be linked to individual learning modalities. This study aimed to analyze the profiles of mathematical conceptual understanding among seventh-grade students at SMPN 23 Mataram, focusing on algebra content and examining differences across Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles. A qualitative descriptive design was employed with 30 seventh-grade students categorized using a validated VAK questionnaire, from which three representative subjects were selected through purposive sampling for in-depth analysis. Data were collected through a Conceptual Understanding Test (CUT) comprising ten essay items aligned with five internationally recognized indicators, encompassing concept identification, classification, representation, application, and relational reasoning followed by individual clinical interviews. Analysis followed Miles and Huberman's interactive model with method triangulation to ensure trustworthiness. The findings revealed three distinct in-depth profiles: visual learners excelled in graphical representation and concept classification but were less precise in numerical computation; auditory learners demonstrated strong verbal concept definition and sequential procedural understanding; and kinesthetic learners showed better comprehension through manipulative activities than through abstract presentation. These results confirm that VAK learning styles significantly shape students' mathematical conceptual understanding profiles, offering meaningful insights for qualitatively oriented educational research. Mathematics teachers should therefore integrate differentiated, multi-sensory instructional approaches to address diverse learning needs comprehensively.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ROMEO

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Other

Description

ROMEO : REVIEW OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION, CULTURE AND PEDAGOGY is an interdisciplinary publication of original research and writing on education which publishes papers to international audiences of educational researchers. The ROMEO Journal aims to facilitate and promote the inquiry into and ...