Learning Style Preferences and Students’ Abilityn Mathematical Investigation on Display Data

Abstract

A mathematical investigation is an inquiry activity to solve a mathematical problem. Good investigative skills will support mathematical problem-solving and mathematical literacy. The purpose of this study is to explore students’ mathematical investigation based on Kolb’s learning styles: diverging, assimilating, converging, and accommodating. Mathematical investigation is measured by four indicators, i.e Specialization, Conjecturing, Justification, and Generalization. This is a qualitative study and the subjects were 7th-grade students of Islamic Secondary School Manahijul Huda Ngagel, Pati, Central Java. The results showed that there are differences students’ ability of mathematical investigastion for accomodator and divergent, also for accomodator and convergent. Students with accommodating learning styles have better investigative abilities, demonstrated on indicators specialization, conjecturing, justification and generalization. Students with assimilation learning styles have a good specialization and generalization but are less successful in the process of conjecture and justification. Conversely, students with convergent learning styles are only good at specialization, but not for conjecturing, justification, and generalization. Students with divergent learning styles have the most difficulty when doing divergent less able to do specialization, conjecture, and generalization.