EKSPLORASI BERPIKIR KREATIF SISWA SMP DALAM MENYELESAIKAN MASALAH BILANGAN BULAT

Abstract. This study aims to describe the creative thinking processes of junior
high school students in solving integer arithmetic problems based on four
indicators of creative thinking: fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration.
A qualitative descriptive approach was used, involving three students
representing high, medium, and low ability levels. Data were collected through
problem-solving tasks and semi-structured interviews, and analyzed according to
the four indicators of creative thinking. The results show that high-ability
students demonstrated all four indicators of creative thinking. They generated
many ideas, applied various strategies to solve problems, showed unique ways of
thinking, and provided detailed and logical explanations of their reasoning.
Medium-ability students met some indicators, especially fluency and flexibility,
but often made mistakes in using parentheses and provided limited explanations
of their thought processes. Meanwhile, low-ability students showed less evidence
of creative thinking; their ideas were few, strategies lacked variation, and their
reasoning was minimally explained. Overall, the findings indicate that students’
ability levels influence their creative thinking processes. High-ability students
tend to show more complete and structured creative thinking, while medium- and
low-ability students need more guidance to develop fluency, flexibility,
originality, and elaboration in mathematical problem solving.
Keywords: creative thinking, fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration,
integer arithmetic.