Reflections on the Study of Expertise and Its Implications for Tomorrow’s World

In this chapter, we reflect on the themes that emerged throughout this Handbook. First, we review why expertise is not always revered and ask whether this relates to the way expertise has been defined and measured. We then re-examine definitions of expertise presented throughout the Handbook as well as the idea that expertise is, in part, about increasing one’s cognitive ability to adapt to complexity. Next, we take a look at where we have been, as a community of communities of expertise researchers, and whether we are heading in good directions, placing an especial focus on how expertise is and should be measured. In the penultimate section, we present some ideas about future areas of research recommended by chapter authors. Finally, we present a potential way forward for researchers to continue to move the field of expertise studies in a positive direction and, ultimately, to better prepare individuals to operate effectively in tomorrow’s workplace.