Cognition, Metacognition, and Metacognitive Theory : A Critical Analysis

Cognition, Metacognition, and Metacognitive Theory : A Critical Analysis

This paper offers a critical analysis of the validity and utility of metacognition as an independent construct for psychological studies. To examine the construct validity of metacognition, the relationship between cognition and metacognition is first analyzed and the conceptual issues involved in the study of metacognition are then examined. To demonstrate the construct utility of metacognition, theoretical perspectives from different areas of psychological studies with a metacognitive focus are presented. It is concluded that metacognition, with its emphasis on the superordinate role of awareness and control in directing cognitive activities and its linkage to motivational correlates, is a valid and useful concept that generates important insights into the conditions and mechanisms of human performance.