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Spontaneous Cognitive Flexibility and an Encompassing System of Epistemological Beliefs

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Links Between Beliefs and Cognitive Flexibility

Abstract

The model presented links an array of epistemological beliefs to cognitive flexibility and is based on three fundamental theory statements. First, beliefs in multiple solutions, multiple sources of knowledge, and connected knowing can motivate learners to search for more than one option for finding solutions or viewpoints. Second, beliefs in tentative knowledge, separate knowing, and complex knowledge can encourage learners to reactivate their search for solutions based on the passage of time or a trigger event. Third, beliefs in gradual learning, complex knowledge, and tentative knowledge can encourage learners to resist premature closure. Two assumptions underlie these three statements. First, cognitive flexibility includes adaptive changing and monitoring the efficacy of the change. Second, changing or adapting one’s thinking capriciously is not cognitive flexibility. Rather, unbridled change is an aberrant manifestation of context sensitivity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Education, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, USA

    Marlene Schommer-Aikins

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  1. Marlene Schommer-Aikins
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Correspondence to Marlene Schommer-Aikins .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Centr. Instructiepsychol.&-technologie, K.U. Leuven, Andreas Vesaliusstraat 2, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Jan Elen

  2. Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Kunzenweg 21, Freiburg, 79117, Germany

    Elmar Stahl

  3. Inst. Psychologie III, Methodenlehre, Entwicklungspsychologie,, Universität Münster, Fliednerstr. 21, Münster, 48149, Germany

    Rainer Bromme

  4. , Subfaculteit Psychologie en Pedagogische, K.U. Leuven, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, Kortrijk, 8500, Belgium

    Geraldine Clarebout

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Schommer-Aikins, M. (2011). Spontaneous Cognitive Flexibility and an Encompassing System of Epistemological Beliefs. In: Elen, J., Stahl, E., Bromme, R., Clarebout, G. (eds) Links Between Beliefs and Cognitive Flexibility. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1793-0_4

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