Development of a self-report measure of metacognition: The metacognition self-assessment scale (MSAS). instrument description and factor structure

Objective: Metacognition is a multi-component psychological construct, characterized by the ability to identify and describe oneâs own mental states and those of others. Evidence has been found for an association between impairments in metacognitive abilities and poor social functioning, low quality of life, severity of psychopathology in Personality Disorders (PDs). However, to date, there are few psychometrically validated instruments available for assessing the different components of metacognition. A self-report questionnaire, the Metacognition Self-Assessment Scale (MSAS), has been developed to evaluate the different functions of metacognition (Monitoring, Integration, Differentiation and Decentration) as defined in the framework of Metacognitive Multi-Function Model (Semerari et al. 2003, 2007). The aim of the present study is to preliminarily investigate the psychometric properties of the MSAS in a large non-clinical sample. Method: The MSAS was administered to 6659 people randomly recruited from the general population. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out to examine the dimensionality of the MSAS. Results: The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a good fit for a four-factor model of metacognition and suggested that metacognition as measured by the MSAS is a multidimensional construct consisting of one general factor with several sub-components. All Monitoring and Integration items loaded on the first factor which appeared to correspond to self-directed reflective cognition, that we named Self-Reflectivity. The Differentiation and Decentration items loaded on the second factor that captures the ability to distance oneself from cognitions and evaluate them critically, we named it Critical Distance. Items related to Monitoring Othersâ cognitions constituted a separated factor, related to the ability to understand othersâ minds, we named this factor Understanding Other Minds. The results also supported the hyp othesis that metacognitive regulation (i.e. Mastery) constitutes a separate metacognitive function, relatively independent of the metacognitive knowledge-related functions. Conclusions: These preliminary results confirm that the MSAS has the premises to be validated as a reliable instrument for measuring metacognition and its components. In particular, the MSAS could represent a useful and flexible instrument for a rapid screening of metacognitive abilities in both clinical and non-clinical contexts