The Relationship Between the Implementation of Reward and Punishment and the Learning Motivation in Christian Religious Education and Character Formation among Seventh-Grade Students of SMP Negeri 4 Laguboti

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine whether there is a positive relationship between the implementation of reward and punishment and students’ learning motivation in Christian Religious Education and Character Education among seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 4 Laguboti in the 2024/2025 academic year. This study employed a quantitative method using both descriptive and inferential approaches. The population consisted of all seventh-grade Christian students at SMP Negeri 4 Laguboti in the 2024/2025 academic year, totaling 196 individuals. A sample of 36 students was selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire comprising 35 positive items, with 19 items measuring variable Y (learning motivation) and 16 items measuring variable X (reward and punishment). The results of data analysis indicate a positive and significant relationship between the implementation of reward and punishment and students’ motivation to learn Christian Religious Education and Character Education. This finding is supported by the following statistical analyses: 1) The test for a positive relationship yielded a correlation coefficient of rxy = 0.537, which is greater than the critical value of rtable (α = 0.05, n = 36) = 0.329. This result confirms the existence of a positive relationship between variable X and variable Y. 2) The test for a significant relationship resulted in a t-value of tcount = 3.711, which exceeds the critical value of ttable (α = 0.05, df = n - 2 = 34) = 2.042. This indicates a statistically significant relationship between variable X and variable Y. Based on these findings, the alternative hypothesis (Ha), which posits that there is a positive and significant relationship between the implementation of reward and punishment and learning motivation in Christian Religious Education and Character Education among seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 4 Laguboti in the 2024/2025 academic year, is accepted. Conversely, the null hypothesis (H0), which posits no such relationship, is rejected.