Skip to main content

Metacognitive Experiences in the Domain of Physics: Developmental and Educational Aspects

  • Chapter
Science Education Research in the Knowledge-Based Society

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate metacognitive experiences in the domain of physics. Specifically, the experiences of task difficulty, certainty about the solution provided to a task, and personal satisfaction with the solution were examined. A total of 138 fifth and sixth grade pupils were asked to (a) solve a battery of tasks measuring thermal phenomena, and (b) evaluate their experienced task difficulty, certainty and personal satisfaction with their solutions on 4-point scales. Data analyses indicated that fifth and sixth graders exhibit relatively limited metacognitive awareness; their metacognitive estimations were not accurate in regard to their cognitive performance. However, the results suggest that pupils begin to associate their metacognitive estimations with their cognitive performance during the examined age period, although they usually overestimate it. The results are discussed in regard to the importance of metacognition to science education and implications for instructional practices are pointed out.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Boekaerts, M. (1997). Self-regulated learning: A new concept embraced by researchers, policy makers, educators, teachers, and students. Learning and Instruction, 7 (2), 161–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A. L. (1995). Advances in learning and instruction. Educational Researcher, 23 (8), 4–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, M. T., & Yore, L. D. (1995). Middle school students’ metacognitive knowledge about science reading and science text: An interview study. Reading Psychology, 16 (2), 169–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, J. E., Deuser, R., & Sternberg, R. J. (1996). The role of metacognition in problem solving. In Metcalfe, J. & Shimamura, A. P. (Eds.), Metacognition: Knowing about knowing (pp. 208–226). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Efklides, A., & Vauras, M., (Eds.), (1999). Metacognitive experiences and their role in cognition. European Journal of Psychology of Education, XIV (4) (Special Issue).

    Google Scholar 

  • Everitt, B. S. (1977). The analysis of contingency tables. London: Chapman & Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flavell, J. H. (1979). Metacognition and cognitive monitoring: A new area of cognitive-developmental inquiry. American Psychologist, 34, 906–911.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flavell, J. H. (1988). The development of children’s knowledge about the mind. In: Astington, J. W., Harris, P. L. & Olson, R. O. (Eds.). Developing theories of mind (pp. 244–267). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, R. (1991). The maturing of the relationship between the science of learning and cognition and educational practice. Learning and Instruction, 1, 129–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greeno, J. G. (1992). Mathematical and scientific thinking in classrooms and other situations. In: Halpern, D. F. (Ed.), Enhancing thinking skills in the sciences and mathematics (pp. 39–61). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, D. (1989). Children and adults as intuitive scientists. Psychological Review, 96, 674–689.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manning, B. H., & Payne, B. D. (1996). Self-talk for teachers and students: Metacognitive strategies for personal and classroom use. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, L. (1994a). Cognitive and metacognitive aspects in conceptual change by analogy. Instructional Science, 22(3), 157–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, L. (1994b). Analogy, metaconceptual awareness and conceptual change: A classroom study. Educational Studies, 20 (2), 267–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shayer, M., & Adey, Ph. S. (1993). Accelerating the development of formal thinking in middle and high school students: Three years after a two-year intervention. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 30 (4), 351–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vosniadou, S. (1996a). Towards a revised cognitive psychology for new advances in learning and instruction. Learning and Instruction, 6 (2), 95–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vosniadou, S. (1996b). Learning environments for representational growth and cognitive flexibility. In: Vosniadou, S., De Corte, E., Glaser, R. & Mandl, H. (Eds.). International perspectives on the design of technology-supported learning environments (pp. 13–23). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vosniadou, S., Ioannides, C., Dimitrakopoulou, A., & Papademetriou, E. (2001). Designing learning environments to promote conceptual change in science. Learning and Instruction, 11 (4–5), 381–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellman, H. M. (1985). The child’s theory of mind: The development of conceptions of cognition. In: Yussen, S. R. (Ed.). The growth of reflection in children (pp. 169–206). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, R. T. (1994). Conceptual and conceptional change. Learning and Instruction, (1), 117–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiser, M., & Amin, T. (2001). “Is heat hot?” Inducing conceptual change by integrating everyday and scientific perspectives on thermal phenomena. Learning and Instruction, 11 (4–5), 331–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiser, M., & Carey, S. (1983). When heat and temperature were one. In: Gentner, D. & Stevens, A. L. (Eds.), Mental models (pp. 267–297). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gonida, E., Kiosseoglou, G., Psillos, D. (2003). Metacognitive Experiences in the Domain of Physics: Developmental and Educational Aspects. In: Psillos, D., Kariotoglou, P., Tselfes, V., Hatzikraniotis, E., Fassoulopoulos, G., Kallery, M. (eds) Science Education Research in the Knowledge-Based Society. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0165-5_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0165-5_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6337-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0165-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics