Using the Web to Enhance Critical Thinking About Psychology Connie Varnhagen

What do we mean by “Critical Thinking”? Knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding thinking, reasoning, and problem solving Propensity to apply these knowledge, skills, and attitudes

Types of Critical Thinking Halonen: °Practical Critical Thinking Accurate, objective observation and analysis of everyday behavior °Methodological Critical Thinking Understanding and interpretation (and application) of the scientific method °Theoretical Critical Thinking Understanding and application of scientific explanations of behavior

Promoting Critical Thinking Active learning Self-directed learning Constructed learning Problem-based learning Discussion Real-world context

Realities in Many Classrooms Large classes Minimal resources Changing student demographics Changing student needs Increased pressures on faculty

Functional Analysis of the Web for Promoting Critical Thinking Disseminate information °Students can critically evaluate information they obtain from the Web Communication °Students can sharpen their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills Simulations and demonstrations °Students can experience different environments

Using the Web to Promote Practical Critical Thinking Use the information dissemination function of the Web to have students read and critically evaluate arguments, e.g., °Recognize observer expectancy bias in facilitated communication Letter from a mother Skeptical site Balanced site

Arguments for Observer-Expectancy I think that no matter how much everyone wants to believe in facilitated communication and no matter how great it would be if all autistic individuals could have the opportunity to communicate... a lot more research must go into the idea because I think that facilitated communication is very much like the case of Clever Hans. No matter how much families want to believe it, I seriously believe there is nothing to support the validity of facilitated communication. Unless the children can communicate under test conditions (facilitator with no idea what question is being asked), then I can't bring myself to believe it works. The mother … is really just hanging on to the hope that her son is expressing himself at a higher level than he actually is.

Arguments against Observer-Expectancy Honestly it is impossible to determine if the autism experiment is an example of observer-expectancy bias. But, I do have hope for all things so it is hope that will make me believe that what has happened to Lenny is NOT and example of observer- expectancy bias. If it is helping the parents then what does it matter if the child is actually learning? … even though it may or may not work it still serves a positive purpose. You don't have to believe in miracles to appreciate the happiness they cause. Fraud or not it still helps people and should be allowed to continue.

Using the Web to Promote Practical Critical Thinking Use the collaboration function of the Web to apply principles learned in class to real life, e.g., °Design a Christmas Web site that color blind people can still enjoy These guys did a great job This one is interesting This one would probably be fine for a color blind person

Using the Web to Promote Methodological Critical Thinking Use the active learning function of the Web to understand how bias can affect experimental results, e.g., °How can subject expectancy effects bias questionnaire results? Lifestyle questionnaire

Using the Web to Promote Methodological Critical Thinking Use the active learning function of the Web to distinguish inferences from observations, e.g., °What do you infer if you are more likely to associate Bush with bad/good than Gore with good/bad? Implicit Association Test

Using the Web to Promote Theoretical Critical Thinking Use the incidental learning function of the Web to analyze a perspective or theory, e.g., °How does Negative Reinforcement University use negative reinforcement to teach principles of negative reinforcement? Negative Reinforcement University

Using the Web to Promote Theoretical Critical Thinking Use the elaboration learning function of the Web to compare/contrast theories, e.g., °How do Piagetian and information processing theories differ in their explanations of cognitive processing? Combination of chemicals problem

Summing Up Developing critical thinking skills (and the propensity to use them) is an important goal of psychology courses As resources dwindle, the Web may be used effectively for promoting critical thinking °We must understand the type of critical thinking we are interested in as well as the functionality of the Web resource we want to use