Critical Thinking with reference to Critical Appraisal

1. Critical Thinking with reference to Critical Appraisal Belinda Nicolau Alissa Levine Summer School 2010

2. Outline • Overview of critical thinking • First series of exercises • Second series of exercises

3. Critical Thinking: definition • Fisher & Scriven: “skilled, active, interpretation and evaluation of observations, communications, information, and argumentation.” • Moore & Parker: “the careful, deliberate determination of whether one should accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim and the degree of confidence with which one accepts or rejects it.”

4. Critical Thinking • Contribution to science • Construction of good arguments

5. Critical Thinking: Formal Guidelines Epistemic Responsibility • Get the facts straight • Be fair • Reflect on your beliefs • Be diplomatic

6. Critical Thinking in 3 Steps Step 1: Believe (the innovative component) Suspend judgment Search for the strengths of a perspective Go so far as to “believe” that perspective Step 2: Doubt (the intellectual norm) Ask probing questions Attack faulty logic/inadequate evidence Use knowledge/information to rebut Step 3: Integrate the first 2 Recognize and articulate complexity Integrate insights gained to deepen understanding Work towards informed judgment

7. Step 1: Believe “Everyone agrees in theory that we can’t judge a new idea or point of view unless we enter into it and try it out, but the practice itself is rare” –Peter Elbow The goal is to embrace all aspects of a perspective/argument, even those that you find ill-founded or offensive. This allows you to discover strengths in an argument that you might have overlooked

8. Step 2: Doubt “Knowing and questioning, of course, require one another. We understand nothing except in so far as we understand the questions behind it” –I.A.Richards The goal now is to question everything no matter how solid/reasonable it may seem This may lead to unexpected insights and questions, as well as a more profound furthering of knowledge

9. Step 3: Integrate Having explored a perspective from within (believing) and from without (doubting), you should be better able to integrate all pertinent aspects identify similarities across perspectives modify your own way of thinking

10. The critical thinking notes on belief and doubt were gleaned from a website and book chapter: www.teachablemoment.org/ideas/critical thinking Peter Elbow, “Methodological Doubting and Believing: Contraries in Inquiry,” in Embracing Contraries: Explorations in Learning and Teaching. N.Y: Oxford University Press, 1986.

11. Critical Thinking: Practical guidelines • Use simple terms • Avoid hidden argument components • Avoid vague/ambiguous expressions • Schematize your arguments • Watch for fallacies • Present a balanced case

12. Critical Thinking • A good argument • The ideas are structured in a concise, coherent, and logical format • The author(s)’ position is stated with confidence, conviction and persuasion

13. Critical Thinking • Developing a Position • In most cases, your concern will be with a topic which not only interests you, but is also one which you already have some confidence discussing

14. Critical Thinking • Formulate some ideas • Jot them down whenever they occur to you • Don’t evaluate them until later • Keep a notebook (or a napkin) handy or use a mini voice recorder • Start early

15. Critical Thinking • Discuss your ideas with friends, roommates, family, pets …

16. Critical Thinking • Exercises