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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
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Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
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Metacognition and polyregulation in daily self-control conflicts.
Sebastian Bürgler1,2, Marie Hennecke2
1University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|September 20, 2023
Summary
Metacognition, including strategy knowledge and regulation, significantly boosts self-control success in daily life. Using multiple strategies, known as polyregulation, also enhances the ability to overcome self-control challenges.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Metacognition is crucial for self-regulated learning.
- Emerging research suggests metacognition's broader role in general self-control.
- Understanding the facets of metacognition in self-control is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between metacognitive knowledge, metacognitive regulation, and polyregulation with daily self-control success.
- To examine how trait self-control relates to metacognitive components.
Main Methods:
- A preregistered experience sampling study with 503 participants.
- Participants reported daily self-control conflicts up to eight times daily for 10 days (9,639 reports total).
- Assessed metacognitive knowledge (strategy repertoire), metacognitive regulation (planning, monitoring, evaluation), and polyregulation.
Main Results:
- Higher metacognitive knowledge, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and polyregulation predicted greater self-control success.
- A larger strategy repertoire was linked to improved self-control outcomes.
- Trait self-control correlated positively with metacognitive knowledge, planning, and monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Metacognition, encompassing knowledge and regulation, is vital for effective daily self-control.
- Polyregulation, the use of multiple strategies, significantly contributes to self-control success.
- These findings underscore the importance of metacognitive skills for enhancing self-control capabilities.
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