Background: Research on causal reasoning often uses group-level data analyses that downplay individual differences and simple reasoning problems that are unrepresentative of everyday reasoning. In three empirical studies, we used an individual differences approach to investigate the cognitive processes people used in fault diagnosis, which is a…

The goal of this special issue is to examine the use of self-report measures in the study of motivation and strategy use. This commentary reviews the articles contained in this special issue to address the primary objective of determining if and when self-report measures contribute to understanding these major constructs involved in self-regulated…

Background: Traditional math instruction that emphasizes procedures and rote memorization is common in math classes, particularly within the United States. Students may be able to perform steps and recite information, but flexible thinking in math is also an important ability. Lay theories assume that extensive experience in math would lead to…

The qualitative research presented in this article attempts to show the impact of teacher initiated activities on six-year-old children's metacognitive monitoring and control abilities. The metacognitive model is discussed, research findings that substantiate the development of separate components of metacognitive regulation are analyzed, and the…

In learning from examples, students are often first provided with basic instructional explanations of new principles and concepts and second with examples thereof. In this sequence, it is important that learners self-explain by generating links between the basic instructional explanations' content and the examples. Therefore, it is well…

This study examines the relationships between self-efficacy, task value, and the use of self-regulated learning strategies by massive open online course (MOOC) learners from a social cognitive perspective. A total of 184 participants who enrolled in two MOOCs completed surveys. The results of Pearson's correlation analysis show a positive…

Far too often, our students attain only a superficial level of knowledge that fails to prepare them for deeper challenges in school and beyond. In "Teaching for Deeper Learning," renowned educators and best-selling authors Jay McTighe and Harvey F. Silver propose a solution: teaching students to make meaning for themselves. Contending…

In the learning sciences, heterogeneity among students usually leads to different learning strategies or patterns and may require different types of instructional interventions. Therefore, it is important to investigate student subtyping, which is to group students into subtypes based on their learning patterns. Subtyping from complex student…

How do we teach learners to use effective cognitive strategies for learning? We tested the efficacy of two instructional methods: (1) providing learners with personalized feedback on strategy effectiveness, and (2) scaffolding learners' strategy use. In a series of online experiments with adults in the United States, we tested whether these…

Undergraduate science students are known to struggle in introductory courses and often focus their studying efforts on memorization-based, algorithmic processes instead of focusing on gaining a conceptual understanding of the course material. To address this issue, the current study investigates the effects training undergraduate chemistry…

Organic chemistry presents a significant obstacle for students seeking entry into health-related professions. Students' ability to develop effective study approaches is an important predictor of success in the course. Herein, we report an investigation utilizing an OCH-adjusted M-ASSIST instrument to assess possible changes in students' study…

This study examined the effectiveness of a career course designed to increase career self-efficacy and exploration among undergraduate students from a university in Taiwan. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to compare a group of students who completed high-intensity action-based assignments (experimental group, n = 74) with another group…

Challenge: As biomedical engineers revolutionize medicine, biomedical engineering programs must adapt to the diverse learning styles of the current student population. Students are learning in new ways and instructional strategies need to be adopted. Novel Initiative: Understanding generational attributes is crucial for developing effective…

Project-based learning (PBL) is increasingly recognised as a transformative alternative to traditional, instructor-centred education, fostering positive student attitudes towards learning. However, public schools in Pakistan largely adhere to conventional teaching methods, contributing to poor mathematics achievement and negative student…

Academic Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning (ASE for SRL) represents individuals' belief in their abilities to regulate and organize their learning to achieve academic outcomes, and it is crucial for motivation and students' well-being. This study, conducted on a nationally representative sample of 26,564 10th grade Italian students (50.1%…