The Influence of Implementing Varied Teaching Methods on Students' Interest in Studying Christian Religious Education

Abstract

This study aims to find out how much influence the Variation of Learning Method (X) on Student Learning Interest (Y) in the subject of Christian Religious Education at SMPN 8 Palangka Raya. This study uses a quantitative approach with an ex post facto type of research. The research population is all Grade VII students who are Christians at SMPN 8 Palangka Raya for the 2025/2026 Academic Year which totals 186 students, spread over 11 study groups. A minimum sample of 100 students was set using the proportional random sampling technique with the formula ni = (Ni/N) × n. The questionnaire was distributed to 120 students to anticipate incomplete data, and after listwise deletion, the number of data analyzed was 119 respondents. Data were collected using a Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (normality test, linearity test, Pearson and Spearman Product Moment correlation test, simple linear regression analysis, determination coefficient test, and t test) with the help of the SPSS Version 27 program. The results showed that the score of Learning Method Variation (calculated from 22 valid items) was in the high category (98.32%) with an average of 71.68, while the Student Learning Interest (calculated from 24 valid items) was in the high (59.66%) and medium (40.34%) categories with an average of 74.06. The Pearson correlation test resulted in r = 0.165 with Sig. = 0.073, insignificant at the level of 5%. The regression equation Ŷ = 59.12 + 0.21X with R² = 0.0272 (contribution of 2.72%). The value of t calculated (1.8093) is smaller than the t of the table (1.9804), so H0 is accepted. It is concluded that there is no significant influence between the two variables, although the relationship is positive.