Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika Volume 15, No. 1, January 2021, pp. 83-90 P-ISSN: 1978-0044, E-ISSN: 2549-1040, DOI: https://doi.org/10.22342/jpm.15.1.12801.83-90 Website: https://ejournal.unsri.ac.id/index.php/jpm Accredited by SINTA 2: http://sinta2.ristekdikti.go.id/journals/detail?id=1811 Received October 16, 2020; Revised December 7, 2020; Accepted December 16, 2020 Obstacles Faced by College Students in Solving Probability Word Problems Mardiana Yusuf 1 , Suzieleez Syrene Abdul Rahim 2 , Leong Kwan Eu 2 1 Institut Aminuddin Baki Cawangan Genting Highlands, Malaysia 2 Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Malaysia Email: mardeq@hotmail.com Abstract There are many difficulties that can be identified when students solve mathematic problems especially in solving probability word problems. This study was conducted to identify the major obstacles faced by matriculation college students while solving the probability of an event word problems. Seven college students were the sample for this case study. Clinical interviews are used as a data collection. This data collection technique was selected based on the researcher’s observation on the participants as they answered the probability word problem task. The task was given during the interview session. Semi structured interviews are used to obtain in depth information. Think-aloud analysis involves observations leading to individual behaviours in the oral or nonverbal form of participants and the researcher’s field notes. Participants were found to have difficulty interpreting probabilities. There are three categories of difficulties that have been identified, namely not knowing the meaning of the word, not knowing the nature of the probability and not being able to identify the goal of the probability word problem. Keywords: Obstacles, Probability of an Event, Think-Aloud Analysis Abstrak Banyak kesulitan yang dapat diidentifikasi pada saat siswa menyelesaikan masalah matematika khususnya dalam menyelesaikan masalah kata probabilitas. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi kendala utama yang dihadapi mahasiswa matrikulasi saat menyelesaikan masalah kata probabilitas. Tujuh mahasiswa menjadi subjek dalam penelitian ini. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara. Teknik pengumpulan data ini dipilih berdasarkan observasi peneliti terhadap subjek saat menyelesaikan permasalahan kata probabilitas. Permasalahan itu diberikan saat sesi wawancara. Wawancara semi terstruktur digunakan untuk memperoleh informasi yang mendalam. Analisis think-aloud melibatkan observasi yang mengarah ke perilaku verbal dan non-verbal individu peserta dan catatan lapangan peneliti. Hasil temuan dalam penelitian ini yaitu peserta mengalami kesulitan menafsirkan probabilitas. Berdasarkan hasil identifikasi terdapat tiga kategori kesulitan yaitu tidak mengetahui arti kata, tidak mengetahui sifat dari probabilitas dan tidak dapat mengidentifikasi tujuan dari masalah kata probabilitas. Kata kunci: Hambatan, Probabilitas Suatu Peristiwa, Analisis Think-Aloud How to Cite: Yusuf, M., Rahim, S. S. A., & Eu, L. K. (2021). Obstacles faced by college students in solving probability word problems. Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 15(1), 83-90. INTRODUCTION Problem solving is a very important learning process in the mathematics curriculum. Based on the Malaysian Education Development Plan, problem solving is an element contained in 21st century skills, which is one of the focus of mathematics learning (Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, 2013). Therefore, problem solving skills among students must be taught from young as problem solving is closely related to word problems. The development of students' mathematical learning depends on the type of word problem both verbally and in the written form (Daroczy, Wolska, Meurers, & Nuerk, 2015; Schley & Fujita, 2014). Word problems serve as contributors to student’s achievement in mathematics,