Inovasi Matematika (Inomatika)
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026): Inovasi Matematika

Critical Thinking Among Field-Dependent and Field-Independent Students in Solving Mathematical Problems

Anton Adi Suryo Kusuma (Primary School Teacher Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia)
Afifah Husna Karomah (Primary School Teacher Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia)
Zohaib Hassan Sain (Department of Business and Management Sciences, Superior University, Pakistan)



Article Info

Publish Date
14 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the cognitive styles of field-dependent and field-independent students in solving mathematical problems. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. The participants consisted of 32 fifth-grade students who completed the GEFT. Based on the classification results, four students representing field-independent and field-dependent cognitive styles were purposively selected as the main research subjects for the critical thinking test and interviews. The research instruments consisted of the Group Embedded Figure Test (GEFT) questions, critical thinking test questions, and interview questionnaires. Data validity was established through methodological triangulation and source triangulation. This study concluded that students with a field-independent (FI) cognitive style consistently demonstrated all critical thinking indicators (focus, reason, inference, situation & clarification, overview) in numeracy problem-solving tasks, as demonstrated by sequential solution steps, written verification, and contextual conceptual definitions. Conversely, Students with a field-dependent (FD) cognitive style demonstrated strengths in contextual understanding but encountered difficulties in documenting reasoning and drawing conclusions.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

inomatika

Publisher

Subject

Mathematics

Description

Jurnal Inovasi Matematika (INOMATIKA) merupakan jurnal Elektronik berisi hasil penelitian pada bidang matematika dan pendidikan matematika. Cakupan dan Ruang Lingkup Materi, meliputi: (1) Kurikulum Pendidikan Matematika, (2) Metode/Strategi Pendidikan Matematika, (3) Media Pembelajaran Matematika, ...