An Effort to Improve Mathematical Problem Solving Ability of Middle Secondary School Students through Autograph-Assisted Mathematics Realistic Education Approach

This study aims to investigate (1) the improvement of students' mathematical problem solving ability (MPSA) through Autograph-assisted realistic mathematics education approach (ARME), (2) The existence of the interaction between the learning approach and the initial mathematical ability (IMA) of the improvement of students MPSA, (3) the process of solving mathematical problems. The instrument used consisted of the MPSA test. Data were analyzed through two-way ANOVA. Before using ANOVA, homogeneity and normality are first tested. Based on the results of the analysis, the findings of the study are: (1) the improvement in MPSA of students in ARME class is higher than the improvement in MPSA of students in conventional class, (2) there is no interaction between learning approach with IMA in improving MPSA, (3) The process of solving mathematical problems that made by the students in ARME class is better than students in conventional class, that means students in the ARME class show more systematic and directed problem solving steps. Research findings recommend that the ARME approach be one of the learning approaches used in schools, especially to improve MPSA.