Creative Thinking Skills of Junior High School Students in Solving Problems Based on Mathematics Anxiety

Authors

  • Stefany Margaretha Hutauruk Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Dwi Juniati Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Siti Khabibah Universitas Negeri Surabaya

Keywords:

creative thinking skills, mathematics anxiety, problem solving

Abstract

Creative thinking skills are essential 21st-century skills that students must master. One factor that can hinder the achievement of this skill is math anxiety. This study aims to describe students' creative thinking skills in relation to their level of math anxiety. The research method employed is a descriptive qualitative approach. This research was conducted at SMP Negeri 2 Ungaran with seventh-grade students as the research subjects. The research tools consisted of a mathematics anxiety questionnaire, a mathematics ability test, and interview guidelines. The data will be analyzed through the stages of reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling, in which students with high and low levels of mathematics anxiety were selected. The research subjects selected were four students who had similar creative thinking abilities. The creative thinking process is characterized by fluency, flexibility, and novelty. Based on the research, students with low levels of math anxiety tend to be able to demonstrate fulfillment of creative thinking skill indicators. Meanwhile, students with high levels of math anxiety are not able to demonstrate fulfillment of creative thinking skill indicators. However, there are differences in the creative thinking process between students with high and low levels of math anxiety.

References

Alabdulaziz, M. S. (2020). Creativity enhanced program for twice exceptionally gifted: Effects of mathematics anxiety level. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists, 8(3), 1185–1199. https://doi.org/10.17478/JEGYS.738223

Beilock, S. L., Gunderson, E. A., Ramirez, G., & Levine, S. C. (2010). Female teachers’ math anxiety affects girls’ math achievement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107(5), 1860–1863. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910967107

Bicer, A., Lee, Y., Perihan, C., Capraro, M. M., & Capraro, R. M. (2020). Considering mathematical creative self-efficacy with problem posing as a measure of mathematical creativity. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 105(3), 457–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-020-09995-8

Gresham, G. (2021). Exploring Exceptional Education Preservice Teachers ’ Mathematics Anxiety The Role of Mathematics Methods Courses in Reducing Mathematics Anxiety. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 15(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2021.150213

Hasan, B., Juniati, D., & Masriyah. (2025). The Influence of Working Memory Capacity and Mathematical Anxiety on the Creative Reasoning of Prospective Mathematics Teachers. Mathematics Teaching-Research Journal, 17(3), 154–177. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1481867.pdf

Haylock, D. (1997). Recognising Mathematical Creativity. ZDM - International Journal on Mathematics Education, 29(3), 68–74. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11858-997-0002-y

He, M., Abbasi, B. N., & He, J. (2025). AI-driven language learning in higher education: an empirical study on self-reflection, creativity, anxiety, and emotional resilience in EFL learners. Humanit Soc Sci Commun, 2025, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05817-5

Huang, B., Zhao, X., Li, H., Yang, W., Cui, S., Gao, Y., & Si, J. (2019). Arithmetic Skill May Refine the Performance of Individuals with High Math Anxiety , Especially in the Calculation Task : An ERP Study. Scientific Reports, 13283, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49627-7

Johnston-wilder, S., Baker, J. K., Mccracken, A., & Msimanga, A. (2020). A Toolkit for Teachers and Learners , Parents , Carers and Support Staff : Improving Mathematical Safeguarding and Building Resilience to Increase Effectiveness of Teaching and Learning Mathematics. Creative Education, 11, 1418–1441. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2020.118104

Juniati, D., & Budayasa, I. K. (2020). Working memory capacity and mathematics anxiety of mathematics undergraduate students and its effect on mathematics achievement. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists, 8(1), 279–291. https://doi.org/10.17478/jegys.653518

Juniati, D., & Budayasa, I. K. (2021). Field-based tasks with technology to reduce mathematics anxiety and improve performance. World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, 19(1), 58–64. https://t.ly/vCbbG

Juniati, D., & Budayasa, I. K. (2022). The Influence of Cognitive and Affective Factors on the Performance of Prospective Mathematics Teachers. European Journal of Educational Research, 11(3), 1379–1391. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.11.3.1379

Krulik, & Rudnick. (1999). Innovative Tasks to Improve Critical and Creative Thinking Skills. In L. V. Stiff & F. R. Curcio (Eds.), Developing Mathematical Reasoning in Grades K–12 (pp. 138–145). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Kwon, H., & Lee, Y. (2025). A Meta-Analysis of STEM Project-Based Learning on Creativity. STEM Education, 5(2), 275–290. https://doi.org/10.3934/steme.2025014

Levenson, E. (2013). Tasks that may occasion mathematical creativity: Teachers’ choices. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 16(4), 269–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-012-9229-9

Listiawati, E., Juniati, D., & Ekawati, R. (2025). Understanding mathematics prospective teachers’ comprehension of function derivatives based on APOS theory: Insights from low mathematics anxiety levels. Infinity Journal, 14(2), 483–512. https://doi.org/10.22460/infinity.v14i2.p483-512

Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis : A Methods Sourcebook (Third). Sage Publications.

Olango, M. (2016). Mathematics anxiety factors as predictors of mathematics self-efficacy and achievement among freshmen science and engineering students. African Educational Research Journal, 4(3), 109–123. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1216175.pdf

Pehkonen, H. (1997). The state-of-art in mathematical creativity. ZDM - International Journal on Mathematics Education, 29(3), 63–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-997-0001-z

Quiceno, J. M., & Alpi, S. V. (2025). Mathematical Resilience: A Positive Protective Factor to Address Mathematical Anxiety. Revista Colombiana de Educacion, 94, e18379. https://doi.org/10.17227/rce.num94-18379

Rosar, M., & Weidlich, J. (2022). Creative students in self-paced online learning environments: an experimental exploration of the interaction of visual design and creativity. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 17(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41039-022-00183-1

Sari, E. F., Trisnani, N., & Nugraheni, N. (2022). Mathematics Anxiety Mahasiswa PGSD Dalam Perkuliahan Daring Melalui Elena. AKSIOMA Jurnal Matematika Dan Pendidikan Matematika, 11(4), 2813–2822. https://doi.org/10.24127/ajpm.v11i4.5907

Sheffield, L. J. (2000). Creating and developing promising young math ematicians. Teaching Children Mathematics, 6(7), 416–419.

Silver, E. A. (1997). Fostering Creativity through Instruction Rich in Mathematical Problem Solving and Problem Posing. Zentralblatt Für Didaktik Der Mathematik, 29, 75–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-997-0003-x

Song, S., Li, T., Quintero, M., & Wang, Z. (2023). The Link Between Math Anxiety and Math Achievement: The Role of Afterschool Learning. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 9(3), 418–432. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.11325

Suren, N., & Kandemir, M. A. (2020). The Effects of Mathematics Anxiety and Motivation on Students ’ Mathematics Achievement To cite this article : The Effects of Mathematics Anxiety and Motivation on Students ’ Mathematics Achievement. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology (IJEMST), 8(3), 190–218. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijemst.v8i3.926

Thornhill-Miller, B., Camarda, A., Mercier, M., Burkhardt, J. M., Morisseau, T., Bourgeois-Bougrine, S., Vinchon, F., El Hayek, S., Augereau-Landais, M., Mourey, F., Feybesse, C., Sundquist, D., & Lubart, T. (2023). Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration: Assessment, Certification, and Promotion of 21st Century Skills for the Future of Work and Education. Journal of Intelligence, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030054

Wahyuni, R., Juniati, D., & Wijayanti, P. (2024). How do Math Anxiety and Self-Confidence Affect Mathematical Problem Solving? TEM Journal, 13(1), 550–560. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM131-58

Wu, P.-F., Fan, K.-Y., Chinag, H.-K., Wu, F. C., & Liu, P.-C. (2018). The Influence of Applying Augmented Reality to a Pop-up Book on Creative Thinking. The International Journal of Arts Education, 13(2), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.18848/2326-9944/cgp/v13i02/35-44

Yazgan-Sag, G., & Emre-Akdogan, E. (2016). Creativity from two perspectives: Prospective mathematics teachers and mathematician. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 41(12), 25–40. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2016v41n12.3

Published

30-06-2026

Issue

Section

Articles