The Impact of Problem-Solving Methods, Learning Styles, And Initial Mathematical Abilities on Mathematical ProblemSolving Abilities of Tenth-Grade Students in SMA Negeri 1 Waisala Maluku

ABSTRACT : This research aims to analyze the impact of students‟ different mathematics problem-solvingability using the problem-solving method, and the relationship between the ability and students‟ learning stylesand initial mathematical abilities. This research is conducted in SMA Negeri 1 Waisala Maluku. The samplecomprises 67 tenth-grade students divided into three classes determined by the multi-stage random samplingtechnique. The method used in this research is pseudo-experiment. To collect relevant data, several instrumentsare used. They are (1) initial mathematical ability, (2) mathematical problem-solving ability, and (3) auditory,kinesthetic, and visual learning styles. The methods used are problem-solving and expository. Based on theresearch findings, (1) After their initial mathematical abilities are controlled, the mathematical problem-solvingabilities of students taught using a problem-solving method are higher than that of students taught using anexpository one; (2) After their initial mathematical abilities are controlled, the mathematical problem-solvingabilities of students with an auditory learning are higher than that of students with a kinesthetic learning style;(3) After their initial mathematical abilities are controlled, the mathematical problem-solving abilities ofstudents with an auditory learning are lower than that of students with a visual learning style; (4)After theirinitial mathematical abilities are controlled, the mathematical problem-solving abilities of students with akinesthetic learning are lower than that of students with a visual learning style; and (5)After the students‟ initialmathematical abilities are controlled, there are an impact of the interaction between learning methods withlearning styles and students‟ mathematical problem-solving abilities.

KEYWORDS: Problem-solving Method, Expository Method, Initial Mathematical Ability, MathematicalProblem-solving Ability, Auditory Learning Style, Kinesthetic Learning Style, Visual Learning Style