The Process-Outcome Disparity in Culturally Responsive Physics Instruction: A Qualitative Case Study from Indonesia

Authors

  • Nurul Husnah Universitas Negeri Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
  • M. A. Martawijaya Universitas Negeri Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
  • Mahir Mahir Universitas Negeri Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52690/jswse.v7i1.1370

Keywords:

Culture-Based Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Implementation Analysis, Physics Education

Abstract

This study examines the implementation and contextual relevance of the CRT approach in Indonesian senior high school Physics education. Employing a qualitative case study design, data were gathered through classroom observations and systematic document analyses (RPP and student outputs) from a single subject at State Senior High School 10 Makassar. The key results demonstrate that while the teacher achieved high pedagogical fidelity successfully fostering inclusive interactions (Score 5.0) and stimulating critical thinking (Score 4.0) by contextualizing abstract concepts the implementation was structurally incomplete. This resulted in an extreme cultural competence gap, characterized by high teacher effort (Score 4.5) contrasting dramatically with minimal cultural manifestation in student outputs (Score 1.0). This disparity is primarily attributed to a structural weakness in formal assessment design that fails to explicitly demand culturally reflective outcomes, coupled with significant external systemic barriers (50% minimal community participation). The research’s novelty lies in its triangulated, quantitative-qualitative documentation analysis used to precisely measure this 4.5 vs. 1.0 disparity, shifting the scholarly focus from individual capacity to systemic issues. The findings offer crucial practical implications for urgent assessment reform to mandate culturally reflective learning outcomes and emphasize the contribution of strengthening holistic institutional commitment and community partnership to bridge the process-to-outcome gap.

References

Ajani, A. O. (2025). Rethinking Teacher Development: Blending Socially Responsible Teaching Approaches with Indigenous Knowledge to Enhance Equity and Inclusivity. SN Social Sciences, 5(50). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-025-01088-8

Alamsyah, T. P., Fathurrohman, M., and Rosmilawati, I. (2025). Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Systematic Review of Educational Practices and Implications. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.23887/jipp.v9i1.91115

Barajas-Salazar, B. E, Aguirre-Munos, Z., Almeida, M., and Viveros, M. (2025). Culturally relevant informal STEM learning for underserved students: effects of repeated exposure to the engineering design process. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1534452

Bennett, E., R. (2023). Toward a Theory of Socioculturally Responsive Assessment. Education Assessment, 28(2), 83-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/10627197.2023.2202312

Brown, C., White, R., and Kelly, A. (2023). Teachers As Educational Change Agents: What Do We Currently Know? Findings From a Systematic Review. Emerald Open Research, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/EOR-03-2023-0012

Castro, K. S., Brown, C. J., and Crippen, J. K. (2025). Fostering Critical Consciousness: A Systematic Review of K-12 Interventions. Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science Education Research, 7(7). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43031-025-00126-y

Choirrunisa, C. and Maryati, M. (2025). Systematic Literature Review: Implementation of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) Approach in Science Education. The Future of Education Journal, 4(8), 4293-4302. https://doi.org/10.61445/tofedu.v4i8.1180

Creswell, J. W., and Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Darling-Hammond, L., Flook, L., Cook-Harvey, C., Barron, B., and Osher, D. (2019). Implications for Educational Practice of The Science of Learning and Development. Applied Developmental Science, 24(2), 97-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1537791

De Costa, P. I., and Ustuk, O. (2025). A Sociopolitical Agenda for TESOL Teacher Education: Moving Beyond Traditional Notions of Teacher Knowledge. Routledge.

Evans, M. C., and Taylor, S. C. (2025). Culturally Responsive Assessment in Classrooms and Large-Scale Contexts: Theory, Research, and Practice. New York: Routledge.

Gay, G. (2018). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice (3rd ed.). Teachers College Press.

Hammond-Darling, L., Flook, L., Harvey-Cook, C., Barron, B., and Osher, D. (2020). Implication for Educational Practice of The Science of Learning and Development. Applied Developmental Science, 24(2), 97-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1537791

Hashim, H., and Ali, N., M. (2022). The Role of Assessment in A Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Culturally Responsive Science Pedagogy in Asia (pp.145–168). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003168706-6

Hickman, R. (2023). Assessment, Creativity and Learning: A Personal Perspective. Future in Education Research, 1(2), 104-114. https://doi.org/10.1002/fer3.19

Hinz, M., and Swennen, A. (2025). Teacher Education Research Must Shape and Drive Transformative Change Towards More Sustainable, Socially Just and Inclusive Futures. European Journal of Teacher Education, 48 (3), 445-453. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2025.2511357

Holincheck, M. N., Galanti, M. T., and Butler, N. T. (2024). Promoting Teachers’ Advocacy and Agency for Equity in STEM Education Through Research and Reflection. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 6(10), 2468-2495. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21970

Ishimaru, A. M. (2020). Just Schools: Building Equitable Collaborations with Families and Communities. Teachers College Press.

Khalifa, M. A. (2020). Culturally Responsive School Leadership. Harvard Education Press.

Ladson-Billings, G. (2021). Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: Asking a Different Question. Teachers College Press.

Ladson-Billings, G. (2021). I’m Here for The Hard Re-Set: Post Pandemic Pedagogy to Preserve Our Culture. Equity and Excellence in Education, 54(1), 68-78. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2020.1863883

Le, H. H., Staley, B., Shore, S., and Nutton, G. (2023). Beyond awareness: Social Justice Agents and Preservice Teacher Possible Selves. Teaching and Teacher Education, 148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104698

Luque-Jimenez, A., Molina, C. S., and Martinez, A. R. (2023). Transforming Organization Culture and Enacting Social Justice in Praxis Through Decolonization of Cultural Artifacts at a U.S. University. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies, 4(4), 8-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.61186/johepal.4.4.8

Martawijaya, M. A., Wahid, S., and Mahir. (2024). The Development of Critical Thinking Ability Instrument Based on Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) in Physics Subjects. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sciences, Technology and Education (ICSTE 2024). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-335-1_16

Mathis, C., Southerland, A., S., and Burgess, T. (2023). Physics Teachers’ Dispositions Related to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. International Journal of Science Education, 45(14), 1162-1181. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2023.2190850

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., and Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Najah, N. S., Nabilah, S. E., Waluya, E. A., Sukmawati, F. W., and Syaripudin, U. (2025). Exploring Culturally Responsive Teaching in Indonesian Elt: Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions and Experiences. Eltin Journal: Journal of English Languange Teaching in Indonesia, 13(2), 435-466. https://doi.org/10.22460/eltin.v13i2

Ogodo, J. A. (2024). Culturally Responsive Pedagogical Knowledge: An Integrative Teacher Knowledge Base for Diversified STEM Classrooms. MPDI Journals, 14(2), 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14020124

Panergayo, E. A., Gregana, F. C., Panoy, D. F. J., and Chua, N. E. (2023). Epistemological Beliefs and Academic Performance in Physics of Grade 12 Filipino STEM Learners. Journal of Progressive Education, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.23960/jpp.v13.i1.202302

Paris, D. and Alim, H.S. (2022). Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning for Justice in a Changing World. Teachers College Press.

Patras, E. Y., Rahmawati, Y., Japar, M. And Hidayat, R. (2024). Today and Future of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT): Indonesia Needs It. Jurnal Kependidikan: Jurnal Hasil Penelitian dan Kajian Kepustakaan di Bidang Pendidikan, Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.33394/jk.v10i4.12985

Peter, M., and Lopush, R. (2025). Culturally Responsive Assessment and Evaluation Practices in Multilingual Classrooms. International Journal of Post Axial: Futuristic Teaching and Learning, 3(2), 135-146. https://doi.org/10.59944/postaxial.v3i2.442

Riley, A. D. and Mensah, F. M. (2025). Conceptualizing and introducing historically relevant science pedagogy as a pedagogical tool for STEM education. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 20, 537-550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-025-10254-6

Rozi, F., Yusnadi, Suyanti, D. R., and Ansya, A. Y. (2025). Culturally Responsive Teaching as a Strategy to Improve Students’ Science Literacy in Higher Education. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 11(6), 58-67. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v11i6.11268

Senghul, O. (2024). Epistemological Beliefs and Classroom Practices of Experienced Physics Teachers: Are They Related? Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1362426

Stosich, L. E. (2024). Working Toward Transformation: Educational Leaders’ Use of Continuous Improvement to Advance Equity. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1430976

Tanjung, I. Y., Festiyed, F., Diliarosta, S., Asrizal, A., Arsih, F., Fadillah, A. M., and Makrooni, G. (2025). Culturally Responsive Teaching in Science Education and Its Relationship with Technopreneurship. Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship, 7(2), 387-399. https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v7i2.563

Vijveijken, V. M., Mol-Schilt, V. T., Bergh, D. V. L., Scholte, J. H. R., and Denessen, E. (2024). An Evaluation of a Professional Development Program Aimed at Empowering Teachers’ Agency for Social Justice. Frontiers in Education, 9, 01-14. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1244113

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-02

How to Cite

Husnah, N., Martawijaya, M. A., & Mahir, M. (2026). The Process-Outcome Disparity in Culturally Responsive Physics Instruction: A Qualitative Case Study from Indonesia. Journal of Social Work and Science Education, 7(1), 454–479. https://doi.org/10.52690/jswse.v7i1.1370

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.