The Effect of Locus Control on Mathematical Problem Solving Ability of Gorontalo City State Middle School Students

Abstract

The existence of a teacher determinesd the quality of education and graduattin of education. . The realization quality of education process is needed by teachers who have relevant competencies and qualifications, so that students could develop mathematical problem solving abilities. Students' mathematical problem solving ability was a student's ability to solve mathematical problems in his life or other problems to achieve the expected goals. The success of students in the ability to solve mathematical problems was determined by locus of control. Locus of control is a way of looking at the students in instilling his confidence in what he did to achieve mathematical problem solving abilities. This study aims to find out the locus of control has a direct effect on mathematical problem solving abilities of Gorontalo City State Middle School students. Using causal survey method with path analysis model to test the direct influence of locus of control on mathematical problem solving abilities of students in Gorontalo City Junior High School. This research sample was taken by multistage random sampling totaling 95 respondents from 1729 people. Data from measurements of locus of control variables and students' mathematical problem solving abilities were collected through questionnaires, observations sheets and interviews and analyzed descriptive and inferential. Descriptive analyze of the students' mathematical problem solving abilities reached average of 31.07 and the standard deviation of 5.38, with 41 people (43%) getting a score below the average, as much as 30 people (32%) the score was on average and 24 people (25%) had above average scores. The results of locus of control variables obtained  average of 150.89 and a standard deviation of 25.53, with 42 people (44%) getting a score below the average, as mauch as 19 people (20%) had scores on average and as many as 34 people (36%) scored above average. The test results showed there was a positive direct effect of locus of control on mathematical problem solving abilities of students in Gorontalo City Middle School. The creation of mathematical problem solving abilities of students is influenced by the locus of control they have.

Keywords: Locus of control, students mathematical problem solving abilities.