Learning strategy research has been very prolific and much has been written about the field and its importance to language learning. This paper traces the history and development of learning strategy research by anchoring it in the field of cognitive psychology in the early years from 1970 to 1990 before reviewing the varied and descriptive nature of the research from the 1990 to the present time. The review highlights that learning strategy research is becoming more diversified and also more revealing in its findings. This needs to be taken as a positive movement because of the holistic picture of the learner and learning that is emerging which, in turn, can help teachers review their pedagogical practices to enhance learning.