Metacognitive knowledge framework: knowledge of cognition divided into declarative, procedural, and conditional knowledge¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The article adopts Flavell's and Schraw's framework in which metacognition comprises metacognitive knowledge and regulation of cognition, and knowledge of cognition "can be further divided into three kinds of metacognitive awareness: declarative, procedural and conditional knowledge". Declarative knowledge is knowing what (about oneself as a learner and factors influencing performance), procedural knowledge is knowing how, represented as strategies, and conditional knowledge is knowing why and when strategies are appropriate. The study applies the declarative and procedural components to analyze skilled EFL writers' interviews.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• The article states the framework draws on Flavell's categorization of metacognitive knowledge into person, task, and strategy variables and on Schraw's two-component distinction

Constraints¶

• The study explicitly excludes conditional knowledge and regulation of cognition, leaving them to future research

Target Learners¶

• English-majored university EFL student writers

Target Learning Objectives¶

• EFL composition writing and metacognitive awareness of writing

Claims¶

• Skilled EFL writers possess audience awareness, keeping readers in mind to judge whether their writing is understandable and coherent. [+M]
• Skilled EFL writers apply procedural planning strategies of brainstorming, organizing, and outlining before writing, and revising strategies of pause-to-think, reviewing, and local plus global revision. [+M]

Related Theories¶

• Procedural-declarative distinction in lexical knowledge
• Skill acquisition theory applied to second language learning: declarative knowledge first, then proceduralization and partial automatization
• Metaconceptual processes framework: metacognitive knowledge and processes specific to concept learning, classified as knowledge, awareness, monitoring, and evaluation

Examples¶

• Design EFL writing instruction to strengthen students' metacognitive models using the skilled writers' knowledge base as the development target

Key Sources¶

• Yu-Ling You; Shih-Guey Joe. (2001). Investigating the Metacognitive Awareness and Strategies of English-Majored University Student Writers. ERIC Document ED465281. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED465281