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Thoughts on Critical Thinking

Thoughts on Critical Thinking. Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D. MBRS-RISE Program, UTSA. 09/23/2013. What is Critical Thinking?. An awareness of interrelated critical questions that you employ at appropriate times Results in systemic, active evaluation of what you read and hear

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Thoughts on Critical Thinking

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  1. Thoughts on Critical Thinking Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D. MBRS-RISE Program, UTSA 09/23/2013

  2. What is Critical Thinking? • An awareness of interrelated critical questions that you employ at appropriate times • Results in systemic, active evaluation of what you read and hear • Influences how you react to information • Accept? • Reject? • Withhold judgment • Must also critically evaluate your OWN conclusions…

  3. Approach to Information • Who is presenting the Information? • What is the problem & conclusions? • Where are they presenting it? • Is the foundation/background solid? • Is experimental design appropriate? • Are the data solid and sufficient? • Are their conclusions reasonable?

  4. These vary with source • Poster or oral at conference • Scientific paper (peer reviewed) • Scientific grant • Report in pop press about paper • Report in pop press without review • News report in general • Talk shows • Internet rumor mongers

  5. What is the Problem and Conclusion • Most can find Problem/Topic/Issue • Most can at least infer a hypothesis - Guess • Conclusions • We conclude that • Results indicate • Consequently • Hence • Therefore • Thus • In short • It follows that • Shows that • Indicates that

  6. Who is Presenting? • Presenter: • Are they qualified? • Reputation in field • Is it in their normal field? • What do they have to gain? • Conflicts of interest? • Money • Reputation • Ratings

  7. Is Foundation/Background Solid? • Where did idea come from? • Literature foundations? • Observations? • Preliminary data? • Are other parts of field ignored? • Are there hidden assumptions?

  8. Are Methods/Design Solid? • Experimental Design • Adequate controls • How was data collected? • Correct equipment used correctly • Are better equipment/methods available? • Polls? • Limited populations? • No other variables present • Are stats appropriately chosen? • Average = Mean, median, and mode • Percent increase

  9. How reliable are the data presented? • Were all appropriate experiments done? • Are they vague in certain sections of paper or grant? • How much repetition? • How generalizable are they? • Does anything seem left out or hidden? • Are graphs and tables good? • Are fallacious arguments presented? • Slippery slope • Attack the credibility of opponents • Patriotism/Tradition • False Causes (correlations) • Appeal to emotion • Race/Cultural biases • Hasty Generalizations • Threats • Circular Arguments

  10. Conclusions • Are they really supported? • Too generalized • Not supported by evidence • Rival explanations

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