“Knowing the Limits of One’s Understanding: The Development of an Awareness of an Illusion of Explanatory Depth”, 2004 (; backlinks; similar):
Adults overestimate the detail and depth of their explanatory knowledge, but through providing explanations they recognize their initial illusion of understanding. By contrast, they are much more accurate in making self-assessments for other kinds of knowledge, such as for procedures, narratives, and facts.
2 studies examined this illusion of explanatory depth with 48 children each in grades K, 2, and 4, and also explored adults’ ratings of the children’s explanations. Children judged their understanding of mechanical devices (Study 1) and procedures (Study 2).
2nd and 4th graders showed a clear illusion of explanatory depth for devices, recognizing the inaccuracy of their initial impressions after providing explanations. The illusion did not occur for knowledge of procedures.
[Keywords: metacognition, explanation, understanding, knowledge, cognitive development]