Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approaches to Mathematics Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Sep 2, 2026

Systematic literature review examining the implementation of the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach in mathematics education across research years and educational levels. Using 20 collected research articles filtered by inclusion and exclusion criteria, the review finds that from 2018 to 2022 CPA implementation most frequently occurred at the elementary school level. Junior high school implementation exists but remains limited, while high school use is the least common. Overall, CPA improves students’ mathematics learning outcomes, mathematical abilities, and affective skills at every level.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Systematic Literature Review (SLR) Method

Selection of included and excluded studies

Findings

Distribution by research year

Distribution by educational level

Overall Impact of CPA on students

| Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approaches to Mathematics Education: A Systematic Literature Review | | --- | | *
Fuji Azzumar1~~,~~ , Dadang Juandi1
1Department of Mathematics Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandunf, Indonesia
* Correspondence author, email: [fujiazzu10@upi.edu](fujiazzu10@upi.edu)
Abstrak: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian sistematik literatur review (SLR) yang berfokuspada implementasi pendekatan CPA dalam pendidikan matematika. Penelitian ini bertujuan untukmelihat pandangan yang lebih mendalam dan komprehensif tentang implementasi pendekatan CPA dalam pendidikan matematika dilihat dari tahun penelitian dan jenjang Pendidikan. Artikel penelitian yang dikumpulkan dan dianalisis berjumlah 20 berdasarkan kriteria inklusi dan ekslusi yang dsudah ditetapkan. Selama periode 2018 sampai 2022 ditemuan bahwa implementasipendekatan CPA terhadap hasil belajar matematika, kemampuan matematika siswa, kemampuanafektif siswa paling banyak dilakukan pada jenjang SD. Implementasi pendekatan CPA padajenjang SMP sudah dilakukan, namun masih sedikit. Padajenjang SMA paling sedikit dilakukan, hanya ditemukan 2 artikel yang menggunakan subjek siswa SMA. Secara keseluruhan pendekatan CPA meningkatkan hasil belajar matematika, kemapuan matematika, dan kemampuan afektif siswa di setiap jenjang Pendidikan.
Kata kunci : pendekatan concrete-pictorial-abstract, pendidikan matematika, hasil belajar matematika, kemampuan matematika, afektif siswa.
Abstract: This research is a systematic literature review (SLR) research that focuses on the implementation of the CPA approach in mathematics education. This study aims to look at a more in-depth and comprehensive view of the implementation of the CPA approach in mathematics education in terms of the year of research and level of education. There were 20 research articles collected and analyzed based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. During the period 2018 to 2022 it was found that the implementation of the CPA approach to mathematics learning outcomes, students' mathematical abilities, students' affective abilities was mostly carried out atthe elementary level. The implementation of the CPA approach at the junior high school level has been carried out, but it is still small. At the high school level, at least it was carried out, only 2 articles were found that used high school students as subjects. Overall the CPA approach improves students' learning outcomes in mathematics, mathematics ability, and students' affective abilities at every level of education.
Keywords: concrete-pictorial-abstract approach, mathematics education, mathematics learning outcomes, mathematical abilities, student affective.
INTRODUCTION
Mathematics education is one of the main focuses in the global education system. Even though various efforts have been made to improve the quality of learning mathematics, there are still many | | Characteristics | Variation | NA | LO | AA | C | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Research year | 2018 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 2019 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | | | 2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | 2021 | 4 | 1 | | 3 | | | 2022 | 2 | | | 2 | | Educational level | Elementary School Junior High School Senior High School | 14
4 2 | 3 2 | 3 1 | 9 2
2 |

FAQs

What does the systematic literature review focus on?

The review focuses on implementing the CPA (Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract) approach in mathematics education and analyzing it across research years and educational levels.

How many research articles were collected and analyzed?

A total of 20 research articles were collected and analyzed based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

What overall effects does CPA have on students?

Across all educational levels, CPA improves students’ mathematics learning outcomes, mathematical abilities, and affective skills.

Sep 2, 2026

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