Digitalization as a determinant of transformations in the cognitive subsystem of the psyche

Introduction. The purpose of the work was to study the theoretically and practically urgent problem of transformations of the cognitive and metacognitive spheres of personality under the influence of digitalization factors, as well as to identify and explain the psychological consequences to which they lead in relation to educational activities. Materials and methods of research. The most valid and reliable methods developed in modern metacognitivism were used – the “Metacognitive Awareness of Activity” technique (G. Schrow, R. Denison); MAI method D. Everson; a method for diagnosing an individual measure of the development of reflexivity (A.V. Karpov, V.V. Ponomareva), as well as the author’s methods for diagnosing an individual measure of the development of metathinking and metamemory. Methods of mathematical and statistical processing (ANOVA) and methods based on the methodology of structural psychological analysis were used. The study involved 192 students from different universities in Yaroslavl. Research results. For the first time, it has been established that the determinative influence of digitalization factors on the metacognitive sphere of the individual is fundamentally diversified, since it combines both positive and negative tendencies. In relation to 5 of the 8 parameters studied, it is negative, in relation to 1 – positive and statistically significant at a fairly high level of significance – not lower than p < 0.05, in relation to 2 – neutral. As a result, a fundamentally new, hitherto undescribed phenomenon is established, which is designated as a syndrome of decreased metacognition. Discussion of results and conclusion. A number of new data have been obtained that reveal and explain the general pattern consisting in the existence of a significant determinative influence of digitalization factors on the metacognitive sphere of the individual, both in general and in the context of educational activities. The discovered influence is also fundamentally diversified – complex, since it is carried out at two main levels – analytical and structural. The essence of the analytical level of determination is that there is a significant and quite significant decrease in the degree of development of individual components of the metacognitive sphere – the main secondary cognitive processes and their corresponding qualities. The specificity of the structural level of determination is that similar – also significant and significant transformations occur in terms of general organization – the structuring and integration of these components into integrity.