1. Foundations of Science
Critical Thinking
Foundations of Science

2. Let’s think about it What makes people effective critical thinkers?
List some characteristics that you believe make people more critical thinkers.

3. Critical Thinking Critical Thinkers…
Are flexible
Identify biases & assumptions
Maintain an air of skepticism
Separate facts from opinions
Don’t oversimplify
Use logic inferences
Examine available evidence before coming to conclusions
Avoid emotional reasoning
After all this, they continue to modify their conclusions as new information becomes available
Critical thinkers are flexible – they can tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty
There may be no definitive correct answer.
Critical thinkers identify inherent biases and assumptions
All individuals interpret information through the lens of their own experiences
Example: Pew Research Center (August 14-17, 2014) Asked people whether the police shooting of an African American teen in Ferguson, Missouri raised important issues about race – 80% of Blacks agreed whereas only 37% of Whites agreed. Which group is unbiased? Neither group is unbiased – each person’s experiences shape their opinions.
Critical thinkers maintain an air of skepticism
…even about ideas with which we agree
Critical thinkers separate facts from opinion
Critical thinkers don’t oversimplify
Be careful of “simple” answers (e.g., solely biology, solely socialization)
Be careful when people generalize from own personal experiences and ignore scientific evidence to the contrary
“My parents were divorced and I turned out fine! Therefore, divorce doesn’t harm children”
Critical thinkers use logical inference
E.g. Correlation doesn’t equal causation (ice cream sales and murder rates)
Critical thinkers examine available evidence before drawing conclusions
What is the research on the issue? Is the research well-designed?
Critical thinkers avoid emotional reasoning
Emotion and critical thinking can coexist
Problematic when it interferences with clear thinking (get so emotional you can’t think)
After all this, they continue to modify their conclusions as new information becomes available
“Facts” can change over time – they represent our current state of knowledge at a given time
Source: Smith

4. Mini-Review What are some characteristics of critical thinkers?
Provide an example of a lapse in logical inferences.