Model mental transition-attempting: The case of beginners students in understanding the concept of integers

Abstract

A mental model is a concept that exists in students' minds and is used to describe and explain a phenomenon. This study aims to describe the transition-attempting mental model of students in understanding the concept of integers. This study uses a qualitative approach and the type of research conducted is descriptive. The subjects of this study amounted to 58 students in class VII. Subjects were given a test to determine their understanding of the concept of integers. They were collecting data in this study using test questions and interviews. Data analysis used five steps, namely 1) data transcoding; 2) reviewing data; 3) data reduction; 4) presenting data; 5) analyzing the process of forming mental models; and 6) verifying the findings. This study indicates that students can compare negative integers and positive integers for symbols of different quantities. However, this finding cannot be categorized into the level of the mental model that already exists, so in this study, we solve the mental transition I model into a transition-attempting mental model. Based on the research results found, the mental transitionattempting model can be seen from the information held by students and stored in long-term memory before they are faced with certain concepts.

Transitional-Apprehending Mental Model for Junior High School Students in Understanding the Concept of Integers

“…The researcher found that most students could compare negative and positive integers with the same quantity symbol. From the results of this analysis and study, it will be possible for students to be able to compare whole numbers with different quantity symbols (Sukiyanto et al, 2022).…”