Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 370-378.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.03.07

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Active Control Influences Self-regulated Category Learning: The “Decision-driven” Perspective

ZHENG Xiaoxing1, LI Peijin2, XING Qiang1   

  1. 1. Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006;
    2. Hengshan Central Primary School, Zhuhai 519165
  • Published:2026-05-15

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Abstract: The “decision-driven” view of the self-regulated learning advantage has been demonstrated in the area of memory, and while minimal control is sufficient to improve memory, the role of autonomy in higher-order tasks is not yet clear. In this study, we examined the sources and mechanisms of the self-regulated learning advantage based on a category learning task using the yoked design with progressively higher levels of autonomy, and used sequence entropy to characterize the orderliness of autonomy in the selection of categories. The results showed that no self-regulated learning advantage was found when learning intervals or control intervals and durations were autonomously controlled; a self-regulated categorical transfer advantage was found when learning intervals, durations, and sequences were autonomously controlled, and self-regulated individuals dynamically adapted their sequential decision-making during the learning process, preferring an interleaved strategy at a later stage. Self-regulated learning eventually facilitated category generalization as the level of autonomy control increased.

Key words: self-regulated learning, active control, decision-driven, category learning, yoked design

CLC Number: 

  • G442
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