EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF COGNITIVE ASPECT ON CREATIVE REASONING IN SOLVING MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM

Rica Wijayanti (STKIP PGRI BANGKALAN)
Buaddin Hasan (STKIP PGRI Bangkalan)
Hodiyanto Hodiyanto (Universitas PGRI Pontianak)

AKSIOMA: Jurnal Program Studi Pendidikan Matematika
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026)

The low development of creative reasoning among prospective mathematics teachers is caused by the dominance of imitative reasoning and the limitations of working memory capacity in the problem-solving process. Therefore, this study is essential to investigate the role of working memory capacity in enhancing the effectiveness of creative reasoning to support more meaningful mathematics learning. This study aims to examine the effect of prospective mathematics teachers’ working memory capacity on their creative reasoning and its processes. This study employed a mixed-method sequential explanatory design. A total of 73 prospective mathematics teachers participated in the study, selected through cluster random sampling. The Operating Span Task (OSPAN Test) was used to assess working memory capacity. A previously developed problem-solving test was used to measure creative reasoning, based on the indicators of novelty, plausibility, and mathematical foundation. Quantitative data were analyzed using linear regression techniques, while qualitative data were analyzed through three stages: data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results indicate that working memory capacity significantly influences the creative reasoning ability of prospective mathematics teachers. Specifically, it was found that 14% of the creative reasoning demonstrated in problem-solving is attributable to working memory capacity. Prospective mathematics teachers with high working memory capacity demonstrate flexibility and fluency in generating new ideas to solve problems, are able to use and connect mathematical concepts appropriately, and provide logical arguments to support the validity of their ideas. In contrast, those with low working memory capacity do not exhibit these characteristics. Rendahnya pengembangan penalaran kreatif pada calon guru matematika diakibatkan adanya dominasi penggunaan penalaran imitatif serta keterbatasan kapasitas memori kerja dalam proses pemecahan masalah, sehingga penelitian ini menjadi urgen untuk mengkaji peran kapasitas memori kerja dalam meningkatkan efektivitas penalaran kreatif guna mendukung pembelajaran matematika yang lebih bermakna. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kapasitas memori kerja calon guru matematika terhadap penalaran kreatif dan prosesnya. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain mixed-method sequential explanatory. Sebanyak 73 calon guru matematika berpartisipasi dalam penelitian ini, yang diperoleh menggunakan cluster random sampling. Operating Span Task (OSPAN Test) diterapkan untuk menilai kapasitas memori kerja. Pada penelitian ini digunakan tes pemecahan masalah yang telah dikembangkan sebelumnya untuk menilai penalaran kreatif, dengan mempertimbangkan indikator penalaran kreatif: kebaruan (novelty), kelayakan (plausibility), dan dasar matematis (mathematical foundation). Analisis data kuantitatif dilakukan menggunakan teknik regresi linier, sedangkan data kualitatif dianalisis melalui tiga tahap: data condensation, data display, dan conclusion drawing. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kapasitas memori kerja secara signifikan memengaruhi kemampuan penalaran kreatif calon guru matematika. Secara khusus, ditemukan bahwa 14% penalaran kreatif yang ditunjukkan oleh calon guru matematika dalam pemecahan masalah disebabkan oleh kapasitas memori kerja. Calon guru matematika dengan kapasitas memori kerja tinggi bersifat fleksibel dan lancar dalam menemukan ide-ide baru untuk memecahkan masalah, mampu menggunakan dan menghubungkan konsep matematika dengan benar, serta memberikan argumen logis untuk mendukung kebenaran ide yang dibuat. Sementara itu, calon guru matematika dengan kapasitas memori kerja rendah tidak menunjukkan hal tersebut.