Which cognitive process involves evaluating one’s own learning and memory strategies?

The cognitive process that involves evaluating one’s own learning and memory strategies is known as metacognition. This term refers to the awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes. It encompasses self-monitoring and self-regulation of cognition, allowing individuals to assess and adjust their approaches to learning, problem-solving, and memory retention. Metacognition is crucial for effective learning because it enables learners to identify which strategies work best for them, recognize when they do not understand something, and decide how to approach their study efforts more effectively.

In contrast, while self-reflection is a process that may involve thinking about one’s experiences and personal growth, it does not specifically focus on the evaluation of cognitive strategies. Cognitive strategy evaluation could imply a broader analysis of strategies without the reflective and self-regulating components inherent in metacognition. Critical thinking entails analyzing and evaluating reasoning, arguments, or claims but does not exclusively address the monitoring of one’s own cognitive processes. Therefore, metacognition is the most precise term for this cognitive process.