The Effect of the Inquiry Learning Model on the Learning Activeness of Christian Religious Education and Character Students in Grade VIII at SMP Negeri 1 Tarutung

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Inquiry Learning Model has an effect on the learning activeness of Christian Religious Education and Character students in Grade VIII at SMP Negeri 1 Tarutung during the 2024/2025 academic year. The research employed a quantitative method with a pre-experimental approach, specifically using a One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The population consisted of 156 Grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 1 Tarutung who are Protestant Christians, and a sample of 32 students was selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a 20-item student assessment sheet. The results of the data analysis indicated that the Inquiry Learning Model had a positive and significant effect on the learning activeness of Grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 1 Tarutung. This is evidenced by: 1) The average posttest score of 75.94, which is higher than the pretest average of 62.75, resulting in a mean difference of 13.19. This indicates a descriptive significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores. 2) The significance test yielded a t-value greater than the t-table value (α = 0.05; df = n-1 = 31), specifically t_count= 5.011 > t_table = 2.042. This demonstrates a significant effect of the independent variable (Inquiry Learning Model) on the dependent variable (learning activeness). Thus, the null hypothesis (H₀) was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis (Hₐ) was accepted, confirming that the Inquiry Learning Model has a positive and significant effect on the learning activeness of Grade VIII Christian Religious Education and Character students at SMP Negeri 1 Tarutung.