The Effect of Student Character on Critical Thinking Skills and Mathematics Learning Outcomes of Fisrt Grade Elementary School Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37680/basica.v6i1.9285Abstract
The study aims to examine the effect of students’ character on critical thinking skills and mathematics learning outcomes among first-grade elementary school students. The study aims to examine the effect of students' character particularly discilpine, responsibility, and independence on critical thinking skills and mathematichs learning outcomes among fisrt-grade elementary school students'. The research employed a quantitative approach using simple linear regression analysis. The sample consisted of 28 students. Character data were collected through a teacher-completed observation questionnaire, while critical thinking skills and mathematics learning outcomes were measured using written tests. Data were analyzed using regression assumption tests and hypothesis tests in SPSS. The results revealed that students’ character did not have a significant effect on critical thingking skills (Sig. = 0.991 > 0.05; R2 = 0.000). Substantively, the R2 value of 0.000 indicates that character variabels did not contribute to explaining the variance in students’ critical thinking skills. However, character had a positive and significant effect on mathematics learning outcomes (β = 0.195; Sig. = 0.010 < 0.05), accounting for 22.8% of the variance in learning outcomes. These findings indicate that character traits such as discipline, responsibility, and independence support academic achievement but do not directly influence critical thingking skills in early-grade students. Practically, teachers are encouraged to consistently integrate character reinforcement into daily mathematics instruction to improve learning outcomes, while simultaneously applying structured problem-based and reasoning-oriented activities to specifically stimulate students’ critical thinking skilss. This study suggests that character education and cognitive skill development should be implemented through complementary instructional strategies at the early elementary level.
References
Anantama, R. (2024). Character Development of Elementary School Students Trhough Vakues Education: A Literatur Riview. SMART: Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational, 2(1), 167–186. https://doi.org/10.61677/smart.v2i1.585
Angely, M., Suyoto, & Nurhidayati. (2024). Implementation of Environmental Care Character Values through the Adiwiyata Program for Grade IV Students at SDN 1 Gintungan. Journal of Basic Education, 5(2), 2746–1211. http://jurnal.umpwr.ac.id/index.php/jpd
Arviani, F. P., Wahyudin, D., & Dewi, L. (2023). Role of Teaching Strategies in Promoting Students’ Higher Order Thinking Skills and Critical Thinking Dispositions. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(9), 332–349. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.9.19
Astuti, M. L. (2024). The Role of 6C Skills in 21st Century Learning of Elementary School Students. Journal of Elementary School Education, 7(2), 154–161. https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/didaktika
Azizah, M., Sulianto, J., & Cintang, N. (2018). Analysis of Critical Thinking Skills of Elementary School Students in Mathematics Learning Curriculum 2013. Journal of Educational Research, 35(1), 61–70. https://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/JPP/article/view/13529
Benninga, J. S., Berkowitz, M. W., Kuehn, P., & Smith, K. (2003). The Relationship of Character Education Implementation and Academic Achievement in Elementary Schools. Journal of Research in Character Education, 1(1), 19–32.
Brutu, Y. (2024). The Impact of Character Education on Student Discipline and Learning Achievement. 2(2), 431–435. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.65311/jkp.v2i3.1050
Eloff, E. M., Merwe, M. Van Der, & Karsten, I. (2024). An Evaluation of The Use of Character Strengths as an Asset-based Approach to Learner Support. 44(3), 1–9. South African Journal of Education
Endalina. (2023). Character Education with Thematic Learning for Grade 1 Students in Medan City. World Journal of Education, 3 (November), 67–78. https://jurnal.stokbinaguna.ac.id/index.php/JURDIP
Hofer, S. I., Reinhold, F., & Koch, M. (2023). Students Home Alone—Profiles of Internal and External Conditions Associated with Mathematics Learning From Home. In European Journal of Psychology of Education (Vol. 38, Issue 1). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-021-00590-w
Istiqama, N., Musawwir, M., & Nurhikmah, N. (2023). Overview of Self Regulated Learning in Students of the Faculty of Psychology, Bosowa University. Journal of Character Psychology, 3(2), 568–574. https://doi.org/10.56326/jpk.v3i2.2343
Khadijah, K., Suciati, I., Khaerani, K., Manaf, A., & Sutamrin, S. (2021). Schools’ Character Education Values and Students’ Mathematics Learning Achievement: a Meta-Analysis. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 40(3), 670–683. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v40i3.39924
Lickona, T. (1991). Educating for Character : How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility. Bantam Books.
Mufidah. (2021). A Comparative Study of the Basic Education System in Indonesia and Finland. Journal of Obsession: Journal of Early Childhood Education, 6(3), 1146–1156. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v6i3.1696
Mulyani, D., Sejiaji, C. A., & Widoyoko, S. E. P. (2024). The Effectiveness of the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5) Theme of Democracy Voice Class XI State High School 4 Purworejo. 1. https://ebook.umpwr.ac.id/suryaedunomics/article/view/5014/2161
Nurhayati, N., Angelina Br T, N., Alamsyah, N., & Razali, I. A. (2024). The Influence of Character Values on Student Learning Achievement at SMP Negeri 31 Medan. EGYPT: Journal of Management Education Social Sciences Information and Religion, 1(2), 371–377. https://doi.org/10.57235/mesir.v1i2.2984
Nurohman, A., Ashari, & Nurhidayati. (2014). Improving Critical Thinking Skills in Solving Physics Problems Using a Think Talk Write Model Based on Learning Strategies to Improve Thinking Ability. Radiation: Periodic Journal of Physics Education, 5(Vol 5, No 1 (2014): Vol 05 No 1 September 2014), 15–19. https://jurnal.umpwr.ac.id/radiasi/article/view/398
Pratiwi, V., & Bramantha, H. (2022). Analysis of students' critical thinking skills in mathematics subjects. Journal of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Education, 2(1), 321–332. http://jurnal.sekawansiji.org/index.php/mutiarapgsd/index%0AAnalisis
Priyanti, N., & Warmansyah, J. (2021). Improving Critical Thinking Skills of Early Childhood through Inquiry Learning Method. Journal of Obsession: Journal of Early Childhood Education, 5(2), 2241–2249. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v5i2.1168
Rohmani, Triyono, Marisa, R., Lubis, L. H., Reni, D. S., Astuti, Muhkishin, H., Uran, M. A. D., Agustini, & Triyono, A. (2023). Learning Strategies in Elementary Schools PT. DIGITAL INDEPENDENCE.
Sakban, A., & Sundawa, D. (2023). Character Education : Direction and Priority for National Character Development in Indonesia. Journal of Education: Journal of Research and Literature Review in the Field of Education, Teaching and Learning, 9(3), 794. https://doi.org/10.33394/jk.v9i3.7843
Saputri, R., Nurlela, N., & Patras, Y. E. (2020). The Effect of Critical Thinking on Mathematics Learning Outcomes. Rev. 3, 38–41. http://journal.unpak.ac.id/index.php/jppguseda
Subroto, D. E., Putri, R. C., Noviantif, W., Putri, S., & Dermawan, N. C. (2025). The Influence of Character Education on Students' Critical Thinking in the Current Era. Journal of Your Country, 2(1), 73–75. https://doi.org/10.69714/sh8hfj06
Susilo, M. J., Dewantoro, M. H., & Yuningsih, Y. (2022). Character Education Trend in Indonesia. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 16(2), 180–188. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v16i2.20411
Susilo, M. J., Dewantoro, M. H., & Yuningsih, Y. (2022). Character Education Trend in Indonesia. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 16(2), 180–188. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v16i2.20411
Suzana, Y., Sabaruddin, Maharani, S., & Abidin, Z. (2021). Mathematics Learning Through Character Education Based on Integrated Thematic Learning: a Development of Learning Materials. Infinity Journal, 10(2), 301–318. https://doi.org/10.22460/infinity.v10i2.p301-318
Umar, H., & Orisan, M. F. (2025). The Influence of Character Education and Learning Discipline on Student Learning Outcomes at the Elementary School Level. Indo-MathEdu Intellectuals Journal, 6(1), 1296–1309. https://doi.org/10.54373/imeij.v6i1.2657
Wang, Y., & Sperling, R. A. (2020). Characteristics of Effective Self-Regulated Learning Interventions in Mathematics Classrooms: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Education, 5(May). https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.00058
Wardani, M. K., Suarjana, I. M., & Renda, N. T. (2021). The Relationship of Strengthening Character Education (PPK) Towards Mathematics Learning Outcomes in Class IV. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Technology and Educational Science (ICTES 2020), 540(Ictes 2020), 374–380. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210407.267
Weber, M., & Harzer, C. (2022). Relations Between Character Strengths , School Satisfaction , Enjoyment of Learning , Academic Self-Efficacy , and School Achievement : An Examination of Various Aspects of Positive Schooling. October, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.826960
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Erika Safitri, Rintis Rizkia Pangestika, Ageng Triyono
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
