for Kim woods

Podcast Lecture 3

Understanding Critical Thinking

This week we will be exploring the different aspects of critical thinking in an effort to better understand the process and to develop our own definitions. We will investigate a model of adult development, the cognitive skills involved in the critical thinking process and the dispositions necessary to make critical thinking possible.

An important aspect of critical thinking deals with your view of the source and nature of knowledge. Some students believe that knowledge comes to them from authorities, that there is a definite right and wrong answer, and that it is their responsibility to work hard and study to get this knowledge from the authority. Others believe that authorities know the facts, but that some areas are matters of opinion and that all opinions are equally acceptable. Still others think that there is no absolute truth and that we must always weigh and compare information to construct knowledge for ourselves.

William Perry, an English Professor at Harvard University, who was the director of the Harvard Study Center, did a longitudinal study and came up with a model of adult intellectual developmental levels. Perry’s theory assumes that development occurs through interaction with others and is sequential, hierarchical and irreversible. The Perry model has nine stages which fall into the following four major categories: dualism, multiplicity, relativism and commitment within relativism.

The first stage that we will discuss is called Dualism. Adults operating at this stage believe that knowledge is quantitative. In other words, they believe that how many facts they know determines how smart they are. This semester we will be attempting to move beyond this stage. As you acquire new thinking skills you will be able to use the facts you learn to construct knowledge for yourself.

The next stage is called Multiplicity. At this level diversity of opinion is recognized, but no distinctions are made between opinions. All opinions are deemed equally valid since no known absolute answer exists. We will be striving to develop the skills needed to evaluate diverse opinions and accept or reject them based on evidence presented in reasonable arguments.

In Relativism knowledge is viewed as relative, socially constructed and determined by context. Opinions are viewed as unsupported assertions of belief. These opinions are deemed worthless. There will remain some matters about which reasonable people will disagree. With support in the form of argument, evidence, and consistent logic, opinions can become “positions.” An individual is considered relativistic with respect to a particular subject if they can articulate the arguments for various positions but have not made a commitment to a particular point of view.

The final stage is Commitment in Relativism. At this level knowledge is viewed as qualitative and dependent on context. Individuals who have reached this stage examine a question in depth and eventually make a judgment about it. Although a commitment is made the individual remains open to significant new evidence that would constitute grounds for reexamining the decision.

One of the goals for this week is to develop your own definition of critical thinking. The CSUF Read 290 Faculty got together and developed the following definition.

· Critical thinking is a sophisticated process which includes skills, dispositions and metacognition. Specifically, critical thinking is disciplined, self-directed, reasonable and reflective thinking that one performs when deciding what to believe or do. It is purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference as well as advocacy of one’s position. It is the art of thinking about one’s thinking in order to make it better, more clear, and more accurate. Critical thinkers are open-minded, flexible, and persistent. It is evidenced by the ability and disposition to improve one’s thinking by systematically subjecting it to intellectual self-assessment.

After some careful reading you will be developing your personal definition of critical thinking.