19 - Conclusion and recommendations for future studies

Abstract

Our research highlighted the role of metacognitive skills in problem solving and information search, and especially online search. The study was based on the first author’s unpublished doctoral dissertation, and in this book it has been expanded and updated. We offered evidence of education students’ lack of research skills and individuals’ need for skills. Our review of metacognitive scaffolds underscores their success in enhancing students’ learning outcomes. Future studies that aim to evaluate the impact of the idea tactics tutorial on individuals’ problem solving should consider efforts to minimize differences among the complexity of participants’ search topics. This would facilitate an accurate evaluation of the tutorial’s impact on problem-solving behaviors.