Week 6 Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is critical thinking?
The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment by questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and considering different perspectives.
Why is critical thinking important in research?
It helps distinguish correlation from causation, identify bias, evaluate methodology, assess evidence strength, and form informed judgments.
Why is critical thinking important in the real world?
It aids in evidence-informed decisions in healthcare, policy, and everyday life—especially when facing misinformation or emotional manipulation.
What are some key real-world factors influencing critical thinking?
Information overload, fake news, social media algorithms, sensationalism, emotional appeal, and low scientific literacy.
What factors influence critical thinking in research?
Study design, sample size, data collection, statistical analysis, source credibility, bias, and whether conclusions align with data.
How can bias affect critical thinking?
Bias can distort observations, measurements, analysis, and publication. Examples include selection bias, recall bias, and publication bias.
How do emotions influence critical thinking negatively?
They can lead to confirmation bias, affect heuristics, emotional reasoning, groupthink, cognitive dissonance, and emotional contagion.
How do emotions influence critical thinking positively?
Emotions like curiosity and empathy can motivate learning, support intuition, and align decisions with personal values.
What is intellectual humility?
Recognising that you may be wrong, being open to new ideas, and respecting others’ views while remaining curious and willing to learn.
How are creativity and critical thinking related?
Critical thinking helps define/refine problems and evaluate ideas, while creativity provides new perspectives and alternative solutions.
How does critical thinking fuel creativity?
By clearly defining problems, refining ideas, and evaluating risks to find workable, novel solutions.
How does creativity enhance critical thinking?
By allowing for flexible thinking, generating new ideas, and encouraging problem-solving through innovation.
What types of questions promote critical thinking?
Clarifying, probing, hypothetical, and evaluative questions all deepen understanding and challenge assumptions.
What is the importance of asking “Why”?
It helps reveal assumptions, uncover root causes, and foster deeper understanding beyond surface-level thinking.
What is metacognition?
Thinking about your own thinking—reflecting on your cognitive processes, biases, and decision-making strategies.
How can you improve your critical thinking skills?
Ask questions, reflect on thinking, practice regularly, stay curious, seek diverse views, engage in discussions, and use metacognition.
What should you consider when critically evaluating social media or research claims?
Source reliability, evidence, author credentials, sensationalism, bias, consistency with known facts, and personal biases.
What role does empathy play in critical thinking?
It promotes understanding of diverse perspectives and helps make ethically and emotionally balanced decisions.
- Why is critical thinking important in research?
It ensures rigorous evaluation of claims, helps avoid misinterpretation, and strengthens the quality of findings by assessing study design, biases, and evidence.
What factors are we considering with this?
Bias (selection, measurement, confounding)
Methodology quality
Source credibility
Statistical appropriateness
Emotional and cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias)
Discuss positive and negative emotional influences on critical thinking:
Negative:
Confirmation bias
Emotional reasoning
Groupthink
Stress/fatigue impair judgment
Positive:
Motivation to explore/learn
Empathy and values support ethical decisions
Intuition may offer insights in complex cases
Key characteristics of intellectual humility:
Openness to new ideas
Recognition of one’s fallibility
Willingness to learn
Respect for differing views
Curiosity
Critical thinking and creativity—how are they linked?
Critical thinking defines problems and refines ideas
Creativity generates novel solutions and new perspectives
They mutually strengthen each other for problem-solving and innovation.
- List and describe the different types of question styles:
Clarifying Questions: Ensure understanding (e.g., “Can you clarify that?”)
Probing Questions: Explore depth and assumptions (e.g., “What evidence supports this?”)
Hypothetical Questions: Explore scenarios (e.g., “What if…?”)
Evaluative Questions: Assess value and merit (e.g., “What are the pros and cons?”)
