A Perspective on Strategy Research: Progress and Prospects

Our goal in this article is to present a broad perspective on the state of strategy research and to consider, in brief, the prospects for strategy research in the future. We first draw on the literature in an effort to delineate the attributes of strategies and to consider several dimensions of strategies that dot the research landscape. Next, we distinguish strategic performance from skillful behavior. With this definitional framework in place, we survey changes that might be evidenced in learners' strategic processing over time, as a consequence of knowledge and motivation, as well as other personal factors. Additionally, we explore aspects of the task and the context that serve as change agents in strategy development, including domain, time, and instructional support. We conclude with a brief reflection on issues that deserve attention in research and practice in the next decade, to assist strategies instruction in reaching its potential as a part of integrated, validated instructional practices.