EFEKTIVITAS PEMBELAJARAN PROBLEMM BASED LEARNING TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN MENULIS TEKS BERITA SISWA KELAS VIII SMPN 1 SOKOBANAH SAMPANG MADURA

Abstrak: Penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan rancangan eksperimen semu (quasi eksperimental design one grup pretes-postest). Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah tes. Adapun objek penelitiannya adalah 20 siswa kelas VIII A SMPN 1 Sokobanah Sampang Madura sebagai smapel uji t berpasangan. Dalam penelitian ini pengumpulan data meliputi, (1) memberikan pretes dalam pembelajaran menulis untuk mengetahui kemampuan awal peserta didik sebelum diterapkan problem based learning, dan (2) memberikan perlakuan  kepada peserta didik untuk membandingkan hasil menulis dari peserta didik setalah diterapkan problem based learning. Pengolaan data statistic  yang dilakukan pada penelitian ini adalah hitungan secara manual dan spss16 menggunakan uji –t statistic berpasangan untuk mencari mean dan hasil t. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa data nilai hasil pretes dan postes,(1) kemampuan menulis teks berita siswa SMPN 1 Sokobanah Sampang Madura sebelum diterapkan model pembelajaran berbasis masalah tidak efektif,(2) kemapuan menulis teks berita siswa SMPN 1 Sokobanah Sampang Madura sesudah diterapkan model pembelajaran berbasis masalah yang diterapkan telah efektif, (3) efektivitas model pembelajaran menulis teks berita ada perbedaan sebelum dan sesudah diterapkan pembelajaran berbasis masalah yang diterapkan telah efektif. Data hasil nilai pada saat pretes kemampuan menulis berita skor rata-rata adalah 60,47. Pretes ini dilakukan sebelum diterapkan pembelajaran berbasis masalah. Sedangkan skor rata-rata postes atau setelah diterapkan pembelajaran berbasis masalah adalah 92,47. Dari hasil ini  bahwa adanya peningkatan kemampuan menulis teks berita setalah diterapkan pembelajaran berbasis masalah.Kata Kunci: Efektivitas, Pembelajaran Problem Based Learning, terhadap Kemampuan Menulis Berita

Using multiple regressions in social sciences research : Some important aspects to be considered

This article discusses one of the most commonly used statistical methods in studying the relationship between dependent and independent variables in social sciences research. The purpose of using multiple regression and types of data suitable for multiple regression analysis are discussed Some important a~pects to be considered when multiple regression analysis is used will be discussed in detail. These aspects are variables selection method (i.e. forward selection. backward elimination and stepwise). Multicollinearity, tolerance, variance inflation factor, influence statistics (DFFIT and DFBETA). Leverage. Cook s distance. standardized regression coefficient (β). coefficient of determination (R²), assumptions such as normality, linearity. homoscedasticity and independence. Figures and tables are illustrated to give better picture of the concepts described

Logical thinking abilities among Form 4 students in the interior division of Sabah, Malaysia

The science curriculum in Malaysia emphasizes the acquisition of scientific skills, thinking skills, and the inculcation of scientific attitudes and noble values. Besides that, the acquisition of scientific and technological knowledge and its application to the natural phenomena and students' daily experiences are also equally emphasized. The purpose of this study was to gauge the logical thinking abilities namely conservational reasoning, proportional reasoning, controlling variables, combinatorial reasoning, probabilistic reasoning, and correlational reasoning among Form 4 students in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. This study was also aimed to ascertain if there is any significant difference in students' logical thinking abilities based on their gender and science achievement at lower secondary level. This was a non-experimental quantitative research and sample survey method was used to collect data. Samples were selected by using a two-stage cluster random sampling technique. Independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to test the stated null hypotheses at a specified significance level, = .05. Research findings showed that the overall mean of students' logical thinking abilities were low. The mean score in percentages for all the subscales (except conservational reasoning) were lower than the overall mean. This research also revealed that up to 98% of the respondents were categorized at the concrete operational stage whereas only 2% were categorized at the transitional stage. Research findings also found that there was no significant difference in the mean of logical thinking abilities (except for conservational reasoning) based on students' gender. Nonetheless, a significant difference based on their science achievement at lower secondary level was found. This research finding brings some meaningful implications to those who are involved directly or indirectly in the curriculum development and implementation of science curriculum especially at the rural secondary schools of Sabah, Malaysia. Background of the Study The development of thinking abilities is well-discussed in the world of education. Cohen (1980) stated that the higher the ability of a person to think in an abstract way, the higher the ability of the person will function effectively in the society. Hence, the improvement of formal reasoning and thinking abilities among students is one of the aims of science education at all level of schooling. Cognitive Development Theory, a well-known theory proposed by Jean Piaget has conceptualised four different stages in the cognitive development of a person i.e. sensorimotor (0-2 years), preoperational (2-7 years), concrete operational (7-11 years) and formal operational (11-16 years). The main difference among these stages of cognitive development is the mode of thinking. Children at formal operational stage can think logically about abstract propositions and test hypotheses systematically. At the same time, they become concerned with the hypothetical, the future and ideological problems. Researchers (e.g. Inhelder & Piaget, 1958; Lawson, 1982b, 1985; Linn, 1982) have identified five different modes of formal operational reasoning i.e. proportional reasoning, controlling variables, probabilistic reasoning, correlational reasoning and combinatorial reasoning which are determinants of students' success in science and mathematics advanced courses at secondary level (Wilson & Wilson, 1984)

The Impact of Accounting Earnings Disclosures on Stock Prices in Malaysia: An Emerging Market

This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of accounting earnings disclosures as determinants of share price changes both in sign and magnitude for an emerging market. This thesis attempts to answer the contentious question as to whether the accepted findings in several institutionally more developed capital markets about the value relevance of accounting earnings is applicable to firms traded in more speculative emerging markets. Many studies have identified the different characteristic of these two types of markets. Amongst the more important distinguishing characteristics of emerging and developed capital markets are (a) economic and institutional differences, (b) size-related features, (c) liquidity differences, (d) information availability and (e) the nature of the market's integration within the financial system. The returns-to-earnings relation is based on three postulated links. These are links between the (1) present price and the future dividends, (2) future dividends and the future earnings, and (3) future earnings and the current earnings. These links have been evidenced in many empirical findings reported by researchers on share price valuation, on earnings and dividends relation, on random walk theory of earnings, and many others studies. A pioneer study on the directional sign effect of unexpected earnings on stock returns appeared in 1968, the magnitude effect was first studied in 1979