Spatial Reasoning of Field-Dependent Cognitive Students: Analysis of Hyperbola Problem Solving Based on Polya's Stages

Abstract

This research is important because of the urgency of information describing that field-dependent subjects do not have good learning outcomes, due to their characteristics in gaining knowledge that tends to require assistance from other objects. Therefore, a study is needed on spatial reasoning in field-dependent subjects through solving hyperbola problems. The purpose of this study is to analytically identify the steps of solving hyperbola problems based on Polya's four stages to see spatial reasoning. The research method used is a qualitative method. This research was conducted on undergraduate mathematics education students. The research subjects were determined by purposive sampling. The research subjects were selected from two field-dependent students with moderate abilities as measured using an analytical geometry test. The research data were obtained using hyperbola problem tasks to see spatial reasoning, and supported by interview transcripts. The findings of this study are in the form of aspects of the novelty of spatial reasoning theory in students with a field-dependent cognitive style , namely the existence of an imperfect problem-solving process in solving hyperbola problems, resulting in poor hyperbola problem-solving achievement. In the step of understanding hyperbola problems, students write down what is known and what is asked in the problem. In the planning step of the solution, students did not provide sufficient information. In the problem solving step, students solved the hyperbola problem well. In the step of checking the solution results, students did not write a review of the results of the problem solving. The conclusion of this study is that the spatial reasoning of field-dependent subjects with moderate abilities has poor hyperbola problem solving. The implications of the results of this study provide benefits for the contribution of science to the theory of spatial reasoning which is reviewed based on the field-dependent cognitive style .