Final Written exam - Week 6

Question 1

Why is critical thinking important in research?

Answer 1

• Distinguishing Correlation from Causation
• Identifying Bias
• Evaluating Methodology
• Assessing the Strength of Evidence
• Forming Informed Judgments

Question 2

Discuss some of the positive and negative influences of emotion in critical thinking

Answer 2

Positive:
- Motivation
- Intuition
- Empathy
- Values

Negative:
- Conformation bias
- Affect heuristic
- Emotional Reasoning
- Groupthink
- Stress and fatigue

Question 3

What are the key characteristics of intellectual humility?

Answer 3

Openness to New Ideas:
* A willingness to consider different perspectives, even if they contradict our own beliefs.

Recognition of Fallibility:
* Acknowledging that we are capable of making mistakes and that our beliefs may be inaccurate.

Willingness to Learn:
* A desire to seek out new information and expand our understanding.

Respect for Others’ Views:
* Valuing the perspectives of others, even if we disagree with them.

Curiosity:
* A genuine interest in learning and exploring new ideas.

Question 4

Discuss the ways in which critical thinking and creativity are intertwined.

Answer 4

Problem Definition:
* Critical thinking helps us define problems clearly and identify the underlying issues, which is essential for generating creative solutions.

Idea Selection:
* Critical thinking helps us evaluate the many ideas we generate and choose the most promising ones to pursue.

Idea Refinement:
* Critical thinking helps us identify weaknesses in our ideas and improve upon them.

Risk Assessment:
* Critical thinking helps us assess the risks and potential consequences of our creative ideas.

Question 5

List and briefly describe the different types of question styles.

Answer 5

Clarifying Questions:
* These questions seek to clarify meaning and ensure understanding.

Probing Questions:
* These questions challenge assumptions and explore underlying issues.

Hypothetical Questions:
* These questions explore possibilities and consider alternative scenarios.

Evaluative Questions:
* These questions assess the value or worth of something.

Question 6

How can you improve your critical thinking?

Answer 6

• Ask questions
• Be curious
• Seek different perspectives
• Practice regularly
• Reflect
• Engage in discussions
• Think about thinking (metacognition)