MIDTERMS : Critical Thinking

Question 1

Types of Decisions

When problems are unusual and unclear. When creative, novel solutions are necessary.

Answer 1

Innovative decision

Question 2

Process of:
- Examining underlying assumptions
- Interpreting and evaluating arguments
- Imagining and exploring alternatives
- Developing a reflective criticism for the purpose of reaching a conclusion that can be justified

Answer 2

Critical thinking

Question 3

The Decision-making Process

• Identify all possible outcomes.
• Examine the probability of each alternative.
• Take the action that yields the highest probability of achieving the most desirable outcome.

Answer 3

Rational decision-making model

Question 4

Decision-making Conditions

Likelihood, expressed as a percentage, that an event will or will not occur

Answer 4

Probability

Question 5

Stumbling Blocks

Managers are often selected because of their expert clinical, not managerial, skills. Optimism, humor, and a positive approach are crucial to energizing staff and promoting creativity.

Answer 5

Personality

Question 6

Involves diagnosing a problem and solving it. May or may not require making a decision.

Answer 6

Problem solving

Question 7

____ are unquestioned beliefs that influence an individual’s reasoning.

Answer 7

Underlying assumptions

Question 8

Types of Decisions

Necessary when both problems and alternative solutions are somewhat unusual and only partially understood

Answer 8

Adaptive decision

Question 9

Critical thinking model’s parts

Answer 9

Creativity
Decision making
Problem solving

Question 10

Creativity is one way to keep organizations ____

Answer 10

alive

Question 11

Decision-making Conditions

Individual or group making the decision does not know all the alternatives, attendant risks, or possible consequences of each option

Answer 11

Uncertainty and risk

Question 12

Strategy to bridge the gap between an existing state and a desired state

Answer 12

Innovation

Question 13

Problem-Solving Methods

An individual’s experience can determine how much risk to take in present circumstances.

Answer 13

Past experience

Question 14

The Decision-making Process

• Emphasizes limitations of decision maker and situation

Answer 14

Descriptive rationality model

Question 15

The Decision-making Process

• Power is the ability to influence or control how problems and objectives are defined, what alternative solutions are considered and selected, what information flows, and what decisions are made.

Answer 15

Political decision-making model

Question 16

Likelihood that an event will or will not occur based on manager’s personal judgment and beliefs

Answer 16

Subjective probability

Question 17

An essential component of decision making. A higher level cognitive process that includes creativity, problem solving, and decision making

Answer 17

Critical thinking

Question 18

May or may not involve a problem. Always involves making a choice.

Answer 18

Decision making

Question 19

Problem-Solving Methods

• Involves testing a theory or hunch
• A project or study is carried out in either a controlled or uncontrolled setting.
• Data are collected and analyzed and results interpreted to determine whether the solution tried has been effective.

Answer 19

Experimentation

Question 20

Four stages of creativity

Answer 20

Preparation, incubation, insight, verification

Question 21

Critical-thinking classes for new nurses improve ____, ____, and ____.

Answer 21

patient safety, job satisfaction, and retention

Question 22

Stumbling Blocks

One proposed course of action is right and all others are wrong. Only one opinion can be voiced and others will be silent.

Answer 22

Preconceived Ideas

Question 23

Four Stages of Creativity

Solutions often emerge after a period of reflection

Answer 23

Insight

Question 24

Problem-Solving Methods

If permitted to run a natural course, problems are solved by those personally involved.

Answer 24

Some problems are self-solving

Question 25

**The Decision-making Process** - The individual chooses an alternative that is not ideal but either is good enough under existing circumstances to meet minimum standards of acceptance or is the first acceptable alternative.

Answer 25

Satisficing

Question 26

The ability to develop and implement new and better solutions. It produces new and better solutions to challenges.

Answer 26

Creativity

Question 27

Likelihood that an event will or will not occur based on facts and reliable information

Answer 27

Objective probability

Question 28

**Four Stages of Creativity** Once a solution has been implemented, evaluate it for effectiveness.

Answer 28

Verification

Question 29

**Four Stages of Creativity** Allow as much time as possible to elapse before deciding on solutions

Answer 29

Incubation

Question 30

**Decision-making Conditions** When alternatives and the conditions surrounding each alternative are known, a state of certainty is said to exist.

Answer 30

Under certainty

Question 31

**Problem-Solving Methods** Relies heavily on past experience and trial and error

Answer 31

Intuition

Question 32

**Four Stages of Creativity** - Pick a specific task - Gather relevant facts - Challenge every detail - Develop preferred solutions - Implement improvements

Answer 32

Preparation

Question 33

**Stumbling Blocks** An inflexible management style

Answer 33

Rigidity

Question 34

Group members come to think alike and have similar prejudices and blind spots. Seriously impairs critical thinking; can result in erroneous and damaging decisions

Answer 34

Groupthink

Question 35

**Problem-Solving Methods** Applying one solution after another until the problem is solved or appears to be improving

Answer 35

Trial-and-error method

Question 36

**Types of Decisions** Relatively well-defined, common problems. Often using established rules, policies, and procedures.

Answer 36

Routine decision

Question 37

Critical-thinking skills can be used to resolve problems _____

Answer 37

rationally

Question 38

Using different ____ and ____ can help the critical thinker develop several different views of an issue.

Answer 38

basic assumptions and paradigms

Question 39

Group members meet together and generate many diverse ideas about the nature, cause, definition, or solution to a problem without consideration of their relative value. Premium is placed on generating lots of ideas as quickly as possible and on coming up with unusual ideas.

Answer 39

Brainstorming

Question 40

Expected risk is calculated or estimated

Answer 40

Probability analysis