From Uncertainty to Performance Optimization
Longitudinal Insights Into Metacognitive Development
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9646142 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Qianqian Wan (0000-0002-0619-637X, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, corresponding author), Olivera Savic (0000-0002-7014-9017, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio), Mengcun Gao (0000-0001-8225-014X, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio), Robby Ralston (The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio), Allison P O'Leary (Brevard College , Brevard, North Carolina), Allison O'Leary (0009-0003-4750-6404, Brevard College), Vladimir M Sloutsky (0000-0003-4054-3360, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 2097-2111 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Child Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0009-3920 • E-ISSN: 1467-8624 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1111/cdev.70029 |
| PMID | 40827619 |
| OpenAlex | W4413308038 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 54 |
This longitudinal study investigates metacognitive development in children aged four to six (N = 148; 74 girls; 106 White, 21 multiracial, 17 Black, 3 Asian, 1 Latino; collected in 2017–2019) compared to adults (N = 26, 13 women; collected in 2022). We assessed metacognitive monitoring and control using experimenter-elicited and self-generated responses in decision-making tasks. Children demonstrated reliable task monitoring by age five and performance monitoring by age six, only on self-generated measures. Children's choice patterns were driven by uncertainty until age six, when performance-optimizing patterns emerged. Cross-lagged panel analysis showed early monitoring abilities predicted later control, supporting the monitoring-drives-control theory. These findings illuminate the early metacognitive development trajectory, notably the transition from uncertainty-based to performance-oriented decision-making
Child development · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Metacognition · Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience · Neuroscience · Neuroscience, Education and Cognitive Function · Psychology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |