Developing critical thinking is a core aim of higher education, particularly in Buddhist studies where students engage with complex philosophical and ethical issues. Although Group Investigation (GI) has been widely examined in secular higher education contexts, empirical evidence of its effectiveness in text-centred religious higher education especially Buddhist Dharmacarya programmes remains limited. This study examined the impact of Group Investigation (GI), a cooperative learning strategy structured around student-led inquiry (topic selection, question formulation, investigation, synthesis, and presentation), on the critical thinking of Dharmacarya undergraduates (a Buddhist higher education track preparing students for teaching and community-based religious instruction). Using a quasi-experimental pre-test - post-test control group design, 120 students were divided into GI (n = 60) and lecture-based (n = 60) groups. Over six weeks, the GI group engaged in collaborative inquiry anchored in canonical text analysis and ethical problem prompts, while the control group received traditional lectures. Critical thinking was assessed with a validated Higher Order Thinking Skills test (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82), covering analysis, evaluation, and problem-solving domains. Results indicated significantly higher gainscores for the GI group (0.56 +/- 0.07) compared to the control (0.32 +/- 0.06), t(118) = 12.54, p < 0.001, d = 1.20. Post-test means also favoured GI (79.25 +/- 5.98 vs. 67.80 +/- 5.55). GI promoted deeper reasoning, collaboration, and engagement, suggesting its strong potential for Buddhist higher education curricula and extending evidence for GI to a religious higher education context characterised by hierarchical and lecture-centred traditions.
Context and relevance. In the era of 21st-century learning, creative thinking is very important, especially in mathematics. Numerical estimation, which is a basic part of numeracy, requires accuracy as well as flexible and innovative thinking. Studying how students use creative strategies to solve estimation problems helps us understand their difficulties, especially when time is limited, and improves teaching methods. Objective. This study aims to examine the creative thinking processes of junior high school students in solving numerical estimation problems, focusing on four dimensions of creativity: fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality. Hypothesis. The stages of creative thinking (fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality) of junior high school students emerge in the process of solving numerical estimation problems. Methods and materials. This study used a qualitative approach involving junior high school students. From 55 students, two participants (S1 and S2) were selected to explore their creative thinking processes in depth. Data were collected through numerical estimation tests, observation, think-aloud protocols, interviews, and field notes. Data analysis was conducted in six stages: reviewing, reducing, grouping, categorizing, coding, and validating the findings through member checking. Results. Junior high school students, in solving numerical estimation problems, demonstrate fluency in generating various strategies, elaboration by drawing on prior experiences, flexibility in adjusting approaches, and originality through unique new strategies. Conclusions. In solving numerical estimation problems, junior high school students demonstrate creative thinking, fluency, elaboration, flexibility, and originality. It is recommended that teachers should be encouraged to adopt diverse teaching strategies that foster creative thinking and go beyond procedural methods. Instruction should accommodate varying creative styles, encouraging all students to explore, reflect, and express new ideas in problem-solving.
Student attendance is a fundamental indicator of learning success, influenced by both internal and external factors. In line with technological advancement, MTs Negeri 1 Yogyakarta developed a barcode-based digital attendance application called "Sregep". However, a systematic evaluation of student perceptions in the Olympiad class (VIII D), which is characterized by dense schedules, high mobility, and intensive technology use, had never been conducted. This study aimed to describe grade VIII D students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the "Sregep" application in improving discipline and learning motivation, its impact on academic achievement, and to identify the technical challenges encountered. This study employed a quantitative descriptive approach with a survey method. The entire population of 30 grade VIII D students was selected using a total sampling technique. Data were collected through closed-ended and open-ended questionnaires distributed via Google Forms and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that ease of use was rated very good with a mean of 5.00, discipline improvement was in the good category with a mean of 4.10, learning motivation increased with a mean of 3.97, and the impact on academic achievement was moderately positive with a mean of 3.73. The main obstacles were difficulty scanning student cards (40%) and queues due to limited scanning points (13%). A comparison of discipline levels before and after application use showed an increase in the "Very Disciplined" category from 20% to 37%. The "Sregep" application proved effective in promoting student attendance discipline and requires further development through additional scanning points and alternative verification features. ABSTRAK Kehadiran siswa merupakan indikator fundamental keberhasilan pembelajaran yang dipengaruhi oleh faktor internal maupun eksternal. Seiring perkembangan teknologi, MTs Negeri 1 Yogyakarta mengembangkan aplikasi presensi digital berbasis scan barcode bernama "Sregep". Namun, evaluasi sistematis terhadap persepsi siswa kelas olimpiade (VIII D) yang memiliki karakteristik jadwal padat, mobilitas tinggi, dan penggunaan teknologi intensif belum pernah dilakukan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan persepsi siswa kelas VIII D terhadap efektivitas aplikasi "Sregep" dalam meningkatkan kedisiplinan, motivasi belajar, dan dampaknya terhadap prestasi, sekaligus mengidentifikasi kendala teknis yang dihadapi. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kuantitatif dengan metode survei. Populasi seluruh siswa kelas VIII D berjumlah 30 orang diambil menggunakan teknik total sampling. Instrumen berupa kuesioner tertutup dan terbuka yang disebarkan melalui Google Form dan dianalisis menggunakan statistik deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kemudahan penggunaan aplikasi berada pada kategori sangat baik dengan rerata 5,00, peningkatan kedisiplinan pada kategori baik dengan rerata 4,10, motivasi belajar meningkat dengan rerata 3,97, dan dampak pada prestasi cukup positif dengan rerata 3,73. Kendala utama yang dihadapi adalah kartu pelajar sulit terbaca (40%) dan antrean akibat keterbatasan titik scan (13%). Perbandingan kedisiplinan sebelum dan sesudah penggunaan aplikasi menunjukkan peningkatan kategori "Sangat Disiplin" dari 20% menjadi 37%. Aplikasi "Sregep" terbukti efektif mendorong peningkatan kedisiplinan kehadiran siswa dan perlu dikembangkan lebih lanjut melalui penambahan titik scan serta fitur verifikasi alternatif.
This study aims to analyze the influence of Customer Values in The Body Shop products affecting customer satisfaction which results in customers being loyal to The Body Shop. The population in this study were the body shop customers who made at least one purchase. The object of the study was The Body Shop Yogyakarta customers in 2024. The sample was purposive, and 200 respondents were obtained which were then analyzed using multiple linear regression and the Sobel test. The sampling technique was distributing questionnaires using Google Forms via WhatsApp. The objectives of this study are (1) hedonic value affects customer satisfaction, (2) social value affects customer satisfaction, (3) functional value affects customer satisfaction, (4) hedonic value affects customer loyalty, (5) social value affects customer loyalty, (6) functional value affects customer loyalty, and (7) customer satisfaction affects customer loyalty. The results showed that Hedonic value had a significant positive effect on customer satisfaction. Social value also has a significant positive effect on customer satisfaction, and Functional value has a significant positive effect on customer satisfaction. Hedonic value has a significant positive effect on customer loyalty but social value does not affect customer loyalty, Functional value has a significant positive effect on customer loyalty, but Customer satisfaction does not affect customer loyalty. The study reveals that social value and customer satisfaction do not significantly influence loyalty, suggesting that loyalty may be driven more by personal gratification and product utility rather than social considerations or general satisfaction alone.
This study investigates the corrosion behavior and mechanical degradation of welded ST37 low-carbon steel exposed to basic (NaOH) and chloride-containing (NH₄Cl) environments. The objective is to evaluate the influence of solution chemistry and immersion time on corrosion rate, surface morphology, elemental composition, and tensile properties of welded steel structures. Welded ST37 specimens were immersed in 1 M NaOH and 1 M NH₄Cl solutions for 100, 200, and 300 hours under controlled laboratory conditions. Corrosion rates were determined using the weight loss method, while surface morphology and elemental composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Mechanical degradation was evaluated through tensile testing following ASTM E8 standards. The results show that NaOH exposure promotes the formation of a stable oxide layer that reduces corrosion rates from 0.024 to 0.019 mm/year and partially restores tensile strength after prolonged immersion. In contrast, NH₄Cl exposure causes more aggressive corrosion characterized by pitting, porous corrosion products, and localized surface degradation due to chloride-induced passive film breakdown. SEM observations confirm thicker corrosion layers and localized attack in the weld metal region, while EDS analysis reveals increased oxygen and chloride content associated with the respective corrosion mechanisms.
