Exploring the Role of Metacognitive Strategies in Research Writing: A Learner-Centered Perspective

Abstract

This study explores the metacognitive strategies of education students in educational research writing using a learner-centered perspective grounded in Flavell’s metacognitive theory (1979) and Zimmerman’s self-regulated learning (SRL) model (2000). Employing a qualitative phenomenological design, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with ten purposely selected fourth-year education students with direct experience in research writing. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Findings reveal four (4) key themes: education students’ perceptions and application of metacognitive strategies in research writing, metacognitive challenges encountered by education students in the planning, execution, and writing stages, learner-centered instructional approaches fostering or hindering the enactment of metacognitive regulation essential to research competence, and education students' reflections and learning Adaptation. Results indicate that while students demonstrate strong conceptual understanding of metacognition, their regulatory practices remain largely reactive rather than proactive, particularly in complex tasks such as synthesis and data analysis. Emotional challenges, peer collaboration, and instructor feedback were also found to significantly shape students’ metacognitive engagement. The study concludes that research writing serves as a developmental space for strengthening self-regulated learning, although students require stronger instructional scaffolding to enhance strategic and emotional regulation. The study recommends structured reflection, explicit strategy instruction, and targeted feedback should be integrated to support the transfer of metacognitive skills.