In Sternberg's theory, which component is a metacognitive process used to plan and monitor problem solving?

• A. Performance components
• B. Metacomponents
• C. Knowledge acquisition
• D. Sensory processing

Answer: (B)

In Sternberg's theory, the metacomponents are the metacognitive control processes that guide problem solving. They sit at the highest level and involve planning the approach, selecting strategies, allocating effort and resources, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes. This is what you use before and while solving a task to control how you tackle it. For example, when faced with a new puzzle, you decide which strategy to try first, estimate how long it might take, check your steps as you go, and adjust your plan if you're not making progress. That planning and monitoring work is exactly what the metacomponents do.

The other components play different roles. Performance components are the actual cognitive operations used to implement the strategy—encoding, transforming, comparing, and applying rules. Knowledge acquisition components handle learning from experience and storing new information for future use. Sensory processing refers to basic perceptual input and isn’t part of this framework’s cognitive control. So the metacomponents are the metacognitive processes that plan and monitor problem solving.