Cognitive Development Through Cultural Narratives: The Effectiveness of the Children's Book with Bugis Value for Early Childhood Education in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study investigates the impact of picture storybooks containing Bugis values (Sipakatau, Sipakainge', and Sipakalebbi) on the cognitive development of early childhood at PGKG Nobel Kindergarten in Makassar. Conducted from April to May 2024, the research employs a quantitative quasi-experimental design. The population includes 54 children, with 32 selected through cluster random sampling and divided into experimental and control groups. The independent variable is the book "The Adventure of Onding: Introducing Sipakatau, Sipakainge', and Sipakalebbi," and the dependent variable is children's cognitive development. Pre- and post-tests assessed visual literacy and values/attitudes. Data analysis involved frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, and various statistical tests including Paired T-Test and Independent T-Test (α = 5%). Results show a significant improvement in cognitive aspects in the experimental group, with average scores increasing from 11.06 to 13.19 (p-value < .001). The control group also showed cognitive development, with scores rising from 10.38 to 11.13 (p-value = 0.035). There is a significant difference in cognitive abilities between the experimental and control groups (p-value < .001). These findings indicate that the book "The Adventure of Onding: Introducing Sipakatau, Sipakainge', and Sipakalebbi" effectively enhances children's cognitive development through Bugis cultural values in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.