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MENTAL MODEL · M6634

Flavell's Model of Metacognition

Flavell's Model of Metacognition
Learn & MetacognitionmediumCognitive Psychology
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Updated 2026-08-10

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

John Flavell proposed this framework in 1979, defining metacognition as knowledge and cognition about cognitive phenomena. It has three components. Metacognitive knowledge divides into three variable classes: person variables, covering what one knows about oneself and others as cognitive agents; task variables, covering what one knows about the demands of different tasks; and strategy variables, covering what one knows about cognitive strategies and when they apply. Metacognitive experiences are the feelings, estimates, and judgments that arise in connection with a task, its processing, or its results. Metacognitive strategies are the deliberate actions used to plan, monitor, and regulate cognition.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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- Use person check: ask what you know about your own strengths and typical failure modes on this task. - Use task audit: identify what this task type demands before choosing an approach. - Use strategy selection: match a known strategy to the task variables you just identified.

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The three components operate as a control system. Metacognitive knowledge supplies the model of self, task, and strategy that makes an approach plausible. Metacognitive experiences deliver real-time signals about whether processing is succeeding, which allows the model to be updated mid-task. Strategies are the actions taken in response. The loop works because experience feeds back into knowledge, so accurate monitoring improves the knowledge base over time, while a weak experience channel leaves the person applying strategies blindly and unable to detect failure.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetacognitionZH · Explicit
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