BCT 1024:
Critical Thinking & Application in
Management
Trimester 1 2014/15
Textbook:
Basham, Irwin, Nardone, Wallace: Critical Thinking: A
Students Introduction 4
th
Edition McGrawHill
Reference:
Stella Cottrell, Critical Thinking Skills 2
nd
Edition
Palgrave McMillan
Lecture 1:
Introduction to
Critical Thinking
Lecture Content: Introduction to Critical Thinking
1.What is Thinking?
6. Barriers to
Critical Thinking
2.Types of Thinking
4. Critical Thinking
Standards
5. Benefits of
Critical Thinking
7. Personal qualities of
a Critical Thinker
3.What is
Critical Thinking?
What is Thinking?
Thinking is a purposeful, organized
cognitive process that we use to make
sense of our world.
Types of Thinking
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Critical
Thinking
Analyzing
Evaluating
Reasoning
New
Ideas
Creative
Thinking
Right
Left
What is Critical Thinking
Cognitive activity-associated with using
the mind
Learning to think critically is by using
mental processes such as:-
Attention
Categorisation
Selection
Judgement
Critical Thinking
Critical here does not mean negative.
Critical thinking is thinking that involves/exercises
skilled judgment or observation.
A good critical thinker has the cognitive skills and
intellectual dispositions needed to effectively identify,
analyze and evaluate arguments* and truth claims.
*note: arguments, as we shall use it in this class,
does not mean disagreements.
Why Study Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking enables one to produce and
assess intellectual work better, as well as to
act more reasonably and effectively in
the world of affairs and personal life.
Richard Paul:
What is Critical Thinking?
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Critical
Thinking
Analyzing
Evaluating
Reasoning
Right
Left
Creative
Thinking
New
Ideas
What is Critical Thinking?
CRI TI CAL
THI NKI NG
SKI LLS
Analyzing
Reasoning
Evaluating
Decision Making Problem Solving
Critical thinking as a process
Identifying other peoples positions
Evaluating the evidence
Weighing up opposing arguments
Being able to read between the lines
Recognising techniques used to make certain positions
more appealing
Reflecting an issues in structured way
Drawing conclusions
Synthesising information
Presenting a point of view
Involves wide range of skills & attitudes:-
Critical Thinking Standards
Clarity
Accuracy
Precision
Relevance
Depth
Breadth
Logic
Fairness/Fair-mindedness
The most significant critical (intellectual) thinking standards:
Clarity
Could you elaborate further on that point?
Could you express that point in another way?
Could you give me an illustration?
Could you give me an example?
Clarity is the gateway standard
Accuracy
Is that really true?
How could we check that?
How could we find out if that is true?
This chicken
weighs over
300 pounds.
A statement can be clear but not accurate
Precision
Could you give more details?
Could you be more specific?
A statement can be both clear and accurate,
but not precise
Yao Ming is
TALL!
Relevance
How is that connected to the question?
How does that bear on the issue?
I stayed up late all
semester to study,
therefore I should get
A+.
A statement can be clear, accurate, and precise,
but not relevant to the question at issue.
Depth
How does your answer address the complexities in the
question?
How are you taking into account the problems in the
question?
Is that dealing with the most significant factors?
A statement can be clear, accurate,
precise, and relevant, but superficial.
Breadth
Do we need to consider another point of view?
Is there another way to look at this question?
What would this look like from a conservative
standpoint?
What would this look like from the point of view
of...?
A line of reasoning may be clear, accurate,
precise, relevant, and deep, but lack breadth.
Logic
Does this really make sense?
Does that follow from what you said?
How does that follow?
But before you implied this and now you are
saying that; how can both be true?
When the combination of thoughts are
mutually supporting and make sense in combination,
the thinking is "logical.
Fairness
Critical thinking demands that our thinking be fair.
Open-minded
Impartial
Free of distorting biases and preconceptions
Fair-mindedness is an essential
attribute of a Critical Thinker.
Good Thinking is
CLEAR.....rather than........UNCLEAR
ACCURATE....rather than.INACCURATE
PRECISE....rather than.VAGUE
RELEVANT.rather than.IRELEVANT
CONSISTENT.rather thanINCONSISTENT
LOGICAL.rather thanILLOGICAL
COMPLETErather thanINCOMPLETE
FAIR.rather than....BIASED
Benefits of Critical Thinking
Improved attention & observation
More focused reading
Improved ability to identify the key points in a message
Improved ability to respond to the appropriate points in
a message
Knowledge how to get your own point across more
easily
Skills of analysis that you choose to apply in a variety of
situations
Activity: Critical Reflection
Emotional self-management
For me, the emotions that are most difficult to
manage when others disagree with me are:
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I deal with these by:
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Barriers to Critical Thinking
o Why is that so many people including many highly
educated and intelligent people find critical thinking
so difficult?
o Critical thinking does not come easily to everyone.
o To develop critical thinking, one needs to be aware
of the barriers to critical thinking and work to
overcome them.
Barriers to Critical Thinking
Misunderstanding of what is meant by criticism
Over-estimating our own reasoning abilities
Lack of methods, strategies or practice
Reluctance to critique experts
Affective reasons
Mistaking information for understanding
Inssuficient focus and attention to detail
Barriers to Critical Thinking
Ego-centricism (self-centered thinking): viewing ones
interests, ideas and values as superior to everyones
else.
Socio-centricism (group centered thinking): tendency
to see ones own group (nation, tribe, sect, peer group,
occupation, and the like) as being inherently better
than others.
Conformism: tendency to follow the crowd usually due
to desire to belong.
Wishful Thinking: believing something not due to
evidence but simply because wishing it were true.
Asch conformity experiments were a series of laboratory
experiments directed by Solomon Asch in the 1950s that
demonstrated the degree to which an individual's own
opinions are influenced by those of a majority group.
Contrasting key intellectual traits of critical
thinker with traits of uncritical thinkers
Critical Thinkers..
Have a passionate drive for clarity,
precision, accuracy and other
critical thinking standards.
Are sensitive to ways in which
critical thinking can be skewed by
egocentricism, sociocentricism,
wishful thinking and other
impediments.
Are intellectually honest with
themselves, acknowledging what
they dont know and recognizing
their limitations.
Uncritical Thinkers.
Often think in ways that are
unclear, imprecise and
inaccurate.
Often fall prey to
egocentricism, sociocentricism,
wishful thinking and other
impediments.
Pretend they know more than
they do and ignore their
limitations.
Contrasting key intellectual traits of critical
thinker with traits of uncritical thinkers
Critical Thinkers..
Reason logically and draw
appropriate conclusions
from evidence and data.
Think independently and
are not afraid to disagree
with group opinion.
Pursue truth and are
curious about a wide range
of issues.
Uncritical Thinkers.
Think illogically and draw
unsupported conclusions
from evidence and data.
Tend to engage in
groupthink , uncritically
following the beliefs and
values of the crowd.
Are often relatively
indifferent to truth and
lack curiosity.
Activity: Critical Reflection
Questions
Rating 40
I feel comfortable pointing out potential weaknesses in the work of experts
I can remain focused on the exact requirements of an activity
I know the different meanings of the word argument in critical thinking
I can analyse the structure of an argument
I can offer criticism without feeling this makes me a bad person
I know what is meant by a line of reasoning
I am aware of how my current beliefs might prejudice fair consideration of an issue
I am patient in identifying the line of reasoning in an argument
I am good at recognising the signals used to indicate stages in an argument
I find it easy to separate key points from other material
I am very patient in going over the facts in order to reach an accurate view
I am good at identifying unfair techniques used to persuade readers
I am good at reading between the lines
I find it easy to evaluate the evidence to support a point of view
I usually pay attention to small details
I find it easy to weigh up different points of view fairly
If I am not sure about something, I will research to find out more
I can present my own arguments clearly
I understand how to structure an argument
I can tell descriptive writing from analytical writing
I can spot inconsistencies in an argument easily
I am good at identifying patterns
I am aware of how my own up-bringing might prejudice fair consideration of an issue
I know how to evaluate source materials
I understand why ambiguous language is often used in research papers
Score out of 100
Personal qualities of a Critical Thinker
Are you OPEN MINDED about other peoples view?
Are you HONEST to yourself (or others) when you are wrong?
Do you have the COURAGE and PASSION to take initiative and
confront problems and meet challenges?
Are you AWARE of your own biases and preconceptions?
Do you WELCOME CRITICISM from other people?
Do you have INDEPENDENT opinions and are not afraid to
disagree?
1.What is Thinking?
6. Barriers to
Critical Thinking
2.Types of Thinking
4. Critical Thinking
Standards
5. Benefits of
Critical Thinking
7. Personal qualities of
a Critical Thinker
3.What is
Critical Thinking?
The End Lecture 1
