PROFIL PEMAHAMAN SISWA KELAS VIII SMP YANG MEMILIKI EFIKASI DIRI TINGGI DALAM MENYELESAIKAN MASALAH KONTEKSTUAL MATEMATIKA

Mathematics is a study field which its existence always contributes in educational process of other studies. In teaching and learning process of mathematics education, problem solving is an essential indicator that must be achieved. In problem solving, especially contextual problem, a student is obliged to have abilities in remembering and applying previous acquired formulas, connecting a certain concept into new problem, and relating symbol/notation with relevant mathematical idea or combining the idea into logical reasoning. This research aims to describe junior high school students’ understanding profile in solving contextual mathematics problem. Subjects of the study were VIII graders of junior high school who had high self-efficacy. Task-based interview method where problem solving task by contextual mathematics was used as data collection technique. Data validation were obtained with time triangulation. Valid data analyzation was done using Miles & Huberman model (reduction, serving, and conclusion). The result ofdata analysis showed the description of VIII graders of junior high school’s understanding profile who had high self-efficacy in solving contextual mathematics problem as following: 1) in connecting a concept towards a problem and adapting the concept to the new problem, including: explaining information of the problem by writing down what they had already known and explicating questions inside the problem by mentioning what was asked, including: how long (minutes) those balloons pop out completely? How long (minutes) the banner starts to fall? And in what year that event was held? 2) in explaining problem byremembering and applying acquired previous formulas as following: explaining solvation steps, 3) in connecting mathematical symbolism and notation with relevant mathematical idea then combining those ideas into logical reasoning, were solving the problem and concluding, as following: answered question a,yellow balloons will pop out completely in 10 minutes, blue balloons 6,66 minutes, red balloons 10 minutes, green balloons 6,66 minutes, and purple balloons 5 minutes, answered question b, the banner will fall at the seventh minutes, and answered question c, the anniversary event was held in 2011.Key words : understanding, self-efficacy, problem solving