Meta-Level Processes

The procedural meta-level (left side of the KNOWING diagram) selects knowledge-seeking strategies to apply, in relation to task goals, and manages and monitors their application. Feedback from this application is directed back to the meta-level. This feedback leads to enhanced awareness of the task goal and the extent to which it is being met by different strategies, as well as enhanced awareness of the strategies themselves (in particular, increased recognition of the power and the limitations associated with each). These enhancements at the meta-level lead to revised strategy selection and hence changes in the distribution of strategies observed at the performance level. In a continuous process, this modified usage in turn feeds back to enhanced understanding at the meta-level, eventually getting the individual to the performance goal of consistent use of the more powerful strategies (Kuhn, 2000).

Sources for further reading:

Kuhn, D. (2000). Why development does (and doesn't) occur: Evidence from the domain of inductive reasoning. In R. Siegler & J. McClelland (Eds.), Mechanisms of cognitive development: Neural and behavioral perspectives. Mahwah NJ: Erlbaum.