Jurnal Mercumatika : Jurnal Penelitian Matematika dan Pendidikan Matematika
Vol 10 No 2 (2026)

A Non-Parametric Analysis of Interrelationships Among Mathematics Learning Interest Indicators: Kendall's Tau-b and Kendall's W Approaches Among Junior High School Students

Eva Nuryani, Christina (Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta)
Kintoko Kintoko (Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta)
Kristina Warniasih (Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Jul 2026

Abstract

Most studies treat mathematics learning interest as a single composite construct linked to learning outcomes, without first testing whether its constituent indicators, namely enjoyment, attraction, attention, and engagement, are themselves statistically interrelated. This study addresses that gap by examining the strength of pairwise associations among these indicators and their overall concordance. A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design was employed using data from 53 seventh-grade students at a junior high school in Yogyakarta, selected through simple random sampling. Because the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test indicated that three of the four indicators departed from normality, non-parametric tests were applied: Kendall's tau-b for pairwise correlation and Kendall's W for overall concordance. The results show that only three of six indicator pairs were significantly and fairly associated, enjoyment-attraction (τb = 0.463), attraction-attention (τb = 0.281), and attraction-engagement (τb = 0.258), while the remaining three pairs showed very weak, non-significant associations. Kendall's W of 0.264 (statistically significant) indicates that the four indicators exhibit real but modest overall concordance. These findings offer both methodological and practical contributions: aggregated interest scores may obscure heterogeneous student profiles, so diagnosis and instructional intervention should target specific indicators, with attraction serving as the most central connective dimension, rather than treating learning interest as a homogeneous construct.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

mercumatika

Publisher

Subject

Education Mathematics

Description

The aim of this journal is to publish high quality research in mathematics education including teaching and learning, instruction, curriculum development, learning environments, teacher education, educational technology, educational developments, from many kinds of research such as survey, research ...