Resumen de Talk as a metacognitive strategy during the information search process of adolescents

Leanne Bowler

• Introduction. This paper describes a metacognitive strategy related to the social dimension of the information search process of adolescents.

  Method. A case study that used naturalistic methods to explore the metacognitive thinking and associated emotions of ten adolescents. The study was framed by Kuhlthau's Information Search Process model and the construct of metacognition.

  Analysis.Data analysis used the words and actions of the participants to tell the story of their journey through the information search process.

  Results.The study found that talk was used as a metacognitive strategy to help clarify thinking and that the talk strategy was more likely to be implemented face-to-face with trusted family and friends, than with the class teacher and college librarian or even social media.

  Conclusions. There is a strong social component attached to metacognitive knowledge during the information search process. Face-to-face social processes during information seeking are an important consideration in the design of library and information systems and services for young people. Utilizing the social component of metacognitive knowledge to its maximum benefit is an important lesson that needs to be taught to young people.