The Effectiveness of REBT-Based Group Counseling on Students' Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) Ability Based on Sex

This study aims to identify the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)-based group counseling techniques in enhancing students' Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) abilities at MAN Salatiga. Furthermore, the research aims to determine whether there is a difference in SRL abilities between male and female students after participating in REBT-based group counseling. The research method employed is quantitative with an experimental approach. The experimental design used is a pretest-posttest single group design. A total of 30 students grade XI from MAN Salatiga (7 males and 23 females) participated in a 6-session REBT-based group counseling. SRL abilities were measured using an SRL assessment questionnaire for high school students before and after the counseling sessions. Hypothesis testing utilized paired sample student’s t-test and independent sample student’s t-test statistics. The results of this study revealed that the REBT-based group counseling technique is effective in improving students' SRL abilities, both for male students (t(6) = 6.64; p = 0.00; d = 2.51) and female students (t(22) = 12.9; p = 0.00; d = 2.69). Additionally, the study unveiled that there is a difference in SRL abilities between male and female students (t(28) = 2.16; p = 0.04; d = 0.93). By employing the REBT-based group counseling technique, SRL abilities will significantly improve, especially among female students.