i get an error "Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '->' (T_OBJECT_OPERATOR)" : [this is the error occured when i debugging the program][1]


  [1]: http://i.stack.imgur.com/HucHf.jpg

Below is the code where error occured ->

    public function does_user_exist($email,$password)
    {
    $query = "Select * from users where email = '$email' and password='$password'";
    **$result = mysqli_query(this -> connection, $query);**