Effects of Diagram Completion on Monitoring Accuracy When Learning Cause-and-Effect Relations From Science Texts

• In Event: Strategies to Improve Metacognition

Abstract

For effective study of science texts, it is crucial that learners can accurately monitor their understanding of cause-and-effect relations. Because monitoring accuracy tends to be low, we aimed to improve it using diagram completion instructions. Participants read six texts, monitored comprehension by making a Judgment of Learning (JOL), and were tested for comprehension. Learners either completed causal diagrams immediately after reading, after a delay, or received no diagram (control) instructions. JOL accuracy was higher for learning of causal relations following diagram completion than control instructions. Judgment accuracy was also higher following delayed rather than immediate diagram completion. Completing diagrams focused learners’ attention specifically on their learning of causal relations, given that instructions did not affect monitoring accuracy for detail learning.

Authors

• Mariette H Van Loon, Maastricht University

• Anique De Bruin, Erasmus University

• Tamara Van Gog, Erasmus University

• Jeroen J.G. Van Merrienboer, Maastricht University

• John Dunlosky, Kent State University