How Perceived Cognitive Style, Metacognitive Monitoring, and Epistemic Cognition Indicate Problem Solving Confidence

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to measure perceived cognitive style, metacognitive monitoring, and epistemic cognition according to Kitchener’s (1983) hierarchal model of cognitive processing as an indicator for problem solving confidence (Heppner, 1988). This study argues these cognitive indicators may be used as a diagnostic foundation for improving ill-structured problem solving capacity for adult professionals who develop software or use software systems to solve ill-structured problems. A 95-item questionnaire was used to determine 1) the relationship between cognitive style and problem solving confidence, 2) the relationship between metacognitive monitoring and problem solving confidence, 3) the relationship between epistemic cognition and problem solving confidence, and 4) whether cognitive style, metacognitive monitoring, and epistemic cognition explain a significant amount of variance in problem solving confidence. Multivariate analysis and backwards (stepwise) linear regression were conducted to establish the relationship between each of the study variables. The analysis determined that measured scores for the perceived assimilator (Kolb, 1984) cognitive style and metacognitive monitoring were moderately significant predictors of problem solving confidence as evidenced by a regression model that explained 20.5% of the expected variance.