Unit 6 Making Decisions Using Critical Thinking

Source: Shutterstock search Critical Thinking

Picture Pause: Ponder the meaning of some of the words in the picture above, and how they play out in decision making. Choose the five of the words that best define critical thinking for you.

“Give a man a truth and he will think for a day. Teach a man to reason and he will think for a lifetime.” Anonymous

Overview

In Unit 6, we will turn to look at how critical thinking increased the depth of our decisions, and, how a lack of critical thinking can confine us to a narrow scope in decision making. Critical thinking is key to effective decision making. Why? Critical thinking is the tool we use to gather information, look at the options, and gain a new perspective. Think about this simple scenario; My goal in getting dressed is to prepare to go to the park. By default, I will just wear what I wore yesterday. But then I start asking questions to consider the possibilities.

  • What is the weather like?
  • Will it rain?
  • Should I bring a jacket, and what kind?
  • Do I need to bring additional clothes for shopping on the way home?

Critical thinking is the needed process of looking at things from different perspectives. Critical thinking is about asking why, when, how, and why questions versus taking things at face value.

Critical thinking is a key to effective decision making when deciding between fact or fiction, doing research, and even deciding between right and wrong, It is critical thinking that opens our eyes to see varied point of view and steering clear of biases.

Within this unit we will look at just how to make critical thinking happen in decision making. But first, watch this short video as an introduction to our study about critical thinking.

Watch: What is Critical Thinking?

Topics

This unit is divided into the following topics:

  1. Discover and understand the process of critical thinking
  2. Applying the critical thinking and how it supports decision making
  3. Examine the Analytic Thinking model and how it is used in decision making

Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this unit, you should be able to:

  • Understand the key factors in using critical thinking in decision making
  • Understand the 8-step structure of Analytic Thinking
  • Uncover practical ways critical thinking impacts our decision making as well as different aspects of our life

Activity Checklist

Here is a checklist of learning activities you will benefit from in completing this unit. You may find it useful for planning your work.

  • Activity 6.1: Read as a foundation to the study in Unit 6
    • Elder, L., & Paul, R., (2016). The thinker’s guide to analytic thinking: How to take thinking apart and what to look for when you do. Tomales, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.
  • Activity 6.2: Examine Controversial Advertisements - Advertisement review using the 3 C’s
  • Activity 6.3: Top 10 Skills Review - Compare the 2020 and 2015 job skills lists.
  • Activity 6.4: Critical Thinking Lecture
    • Watch the Lecture presented by Professor William Badke on the topic of Critical Thinking in Western Civilization
    • Discuss Badke’s lecture with your Group
  • Activity 6.5: Cognitive Reflection Test
  • Activity 6.6: Field Trip Exercise
  • Assessment: Field Trip Report - Group presentation

6.1 Resources

Here are the resources you will need to complete this unit.

  • Elder, L., & Paul, R., (2016). The thinker’s guide to analytic thinking: How to take thinking apart and what to look for when you do. Tomales, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.

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6.2 Discover and understand the process of critical thinking

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Picture Pause

Critical thinking requires stepping back from a situation. It looks at the circumstances along with the facts and anticipated possibilities, and then finds the path to a good decision.

As you read through the list below, you will recognize a common thread in that critical thinking delves into information by effectively using questions. Critical thinking never looks at a situation from its face value but digs deeper, looking for supporting evidence, diverse opinions, and creative responses. On the flip side, our thinking today is strongly influenced by Social Media. As you read the following paragraphs, compare how critical thinking compares with how we perceive information we read on Social Media.

Critical Thinking Is…

  • An ability to think clearly and rationally about what you believe about a situation.
  • Understanding that there are logical connections between ideas:
    • identifying, constructing, and evaluating related ideas by examining the purpose
    • detecting inconsistencies in reasoning
    • gathering new ideas and new perspectives

Critical Thinking happens when…

  • the new ideas that bring fresh perspectives that become a base for new approaches to problem solving and decision making.
  • asking questions like why, how, and when, digging behind the obvious through research, experience, interviewing, and/or observation.
  • creative approaches to decisions are made through “out-of-the-box” thinking and challenging the status quo.

Reference: Critical Thinking Web

Learning Activities

Activity 6.1: Reading this booklet is the foundation for Unit 6 discussion (60 minutes)

📔 Elder, L., & Paul, R., (2016). The thinker’s guide to analytic thinking: How to take thinking apart and what to look for when you do. Tomales, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Note that the Learning Activities are ungraded, unless otherwise specified. They are designed to help you succeed in your assessments in this course, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them.

Activity 6.2: Thinking Critically About Controversial Advertisements

Questions are the foundation to critical thinking, introspection, and perspective. Questions can be used to achieve a transformation or awareness in our ideas, and help to get our mind around the possibilities. Questions can also help us to shape our sense of right and wrong, and to evaluate that process.

You are now asked to watch three controversial advertisements.

  • After watching each of the advertisements shown below, pause to consider the 3 Cs: Curious, Concerned, and Creative.
  • Group members will choose either Curious, Concerned, or Creative.
  • Individually think about the questions and after 3 – 4 minutes, reconvene with the group and share your thoughts and perceptions.
  • After watching the next advertisement, each group member will choose a different C to consider.
  • Some questions may be applied easier than others.

📺 Advertisement #1 - Benneton Ad

📺 Advertisement #2 - Pepsi

📺 Advertisement #3 - Peloton

The 3 C’s

  1. What are you CURIOUS about?
    • What topic excites you?
    • Describe your curiosity – is it emotional? Spiritual? Intellectual?
    • What do you want to learn about?
    • Describe why you value the topic.
  2. What are you CONCERNED about?
    • Describe your concern
    • How is it connected to other issues in the world?
    • Does it cause worry?
    • What have you been able to do about it?
    • Who are others that share your concern?
  3. What do you want to CREATE in the world?
    • What is your hope?
    • How did you discover the need?
    • Has it become a passion?
    • Describe the impact on the world if you could create this?
    • What will it take for you to be able to create this?

Final evaluation

  1. Did you find the questions to be a good way to articulate your thoughts?
  2. Did you find the questions to be a guide in understanding your response to the advertisement?
  3. Did you find the questions to express your values?

After each Group member has shared their “C”, have a group discussion sharing observations about the power of a question.

6.3 Applying the Critical Thinking and How it Supports Decision Making

Top Ten Skills

In 2020 In 2015
1. Complex Problem Solving 1. Complex Problem Solving
2.Critical Thinking 2. Coordinating with Others
3. Creativity 3. People Management
4. People Management 4. Critical Thinking
5. Coordinating with Others 5. Negotiation
6. Emotional Intelligence 6. Quality Control
7. Judgment and Decision Making 7. Service Orientation
8. Service Orientation 8. Judgment and Decision Making
9. Negotiation 9. Active Listening
10. Cognitive Flexibility 10. Creativity

This is a chart of the Top 10 Skills needed for success in 2020 compared to 2015. Review the lists and notice the differences. You will see the 2020 list has added Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Flexibility. Those, along with the cognitive components listed in the positions 1 – 3, reflect on the growing need for critical thinking skills if we are to effectively process the amount of information we encounter each day.

Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture. ~ Francis Bacon (1605)

  • Critical thinking is a process open to thinking beyond a specific topic. The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to do. Critical thinking skills are not restricted to a particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset for any career.
  • Critical thinking is very important in the fast changing information and technology culture.  One has to be able to deal with changes quickly and effectively with the ability to analyze information and integrate diverse sources of knowledge in solving problems.
  • Critical thinking enhances communication skills. Thinking clearly and systematically can improve the way we express our ideas.
  • Critical thinking promotes creativity. To come up with a creative solution to a problem must also be able to evaluate new ideas being generated through the critical thinking process.
  • Critical thinking supports self-reflection. In order to live a meaningful life and to structure our lives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions. Critical thinking provides the tools for self evaluation, as well as overcoming biases and prejudice.
  • Critical thinking is not simply optional, it is a must. In our information packed, fast pace of our world today, one needs the ability to assemble the necessary information and quickly apply it to a strategic plan, a technology purchase, or writing a mission statement. Critical thinking is a key to success.

Source: skillsoft.com

Learning Activities

Activity 6.3: Top 10 Skills Review

  • Read through both the 2020 and 2015 lists.
  • Identify the areas where the lists are different.
  • Consider why some topics have moved up or down on the list.
  • Discuss your thoughts and reasons with your Group.

Activity 6.4: Critical Thinking Short Lecture

Activity 6.5: Cognitive Reflection Test

Answer the questions below. (Note: The answers can be found at the end of this section, but do not check until you think about the answers yourself!)

  1. A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
  2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?
  3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?

What is interesting about this test is that each of the question has an “intuitive” answer which is actually wrong. To get all questions right, most people would need to suppress their immediate reactions and reflect carefully to come to the correct answers. This is supposed to reflect the capacity for deliberate and reflective reasoning and to avoid jumping to conclusions. Researchers claim that the short test actually provides a rather good measurement of rational thinking and cognitive ability.

In case you are wondering about how well other people do, here are the average scores for students at various US universities:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 2.18
  • Princeton: 1.63
  • Harvard: 1.43
  • Michigan State: 0.79

Don’t worry if you did not get all the answers right. What is important is to realize that in some situations, spending more time thinking about the question is better than coming up with an answer very quickly!

The answers are: $0.05, 5 mins, 47 days.

Source: Critical Thinking Web

6.4 Examine the 8-step Structure of Analytic Thinking

Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash

As often as a study is cultivated by narrow minds, they will draw from it narrow conclusion. - John Stewart Mill

There are times when decisions have to be made based on a large body of information. The decision itself may be an easy “just choose one or the other”. As an example, “Should I move my family to the city or stay in the country?” While it is an easy question, it involves a high level of analytic thinking, considering multi-faceted information that is required before an informed decision can be made.

Why is thinking analytically important when making that decision?

Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or downright prejudiced. Yet the equality of our life and what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly both in money and in quality of life. (Elder, L., & Paul, R., 2016, pg. 5)

Back to our question, “Should I move my family to the city or stay in the country?” In that decision, there is not only a large body of information to be considered, but there is also the impact on each member of the family to be considered. In order to avoid “distorted, partial, uninformed and downright prejudiced” thoughts, we must first stand back and analyze “the quality of our thought”.

The Analytic Thinking model has an 8-step structure that is described as being present in all thinking.

Whenever we think, we think for a purpose

  • Define the purpose
  • it raises questions
  • starts with a point of view and
  • starts with assumptions.

We use concepts, ideas and theories

  • to interpret data, facts, and experiences
  • that leads to implications and consequences and
  • concludes with answering questions and solve problems
  • reflection after the decision.” (pg 5)

Click on the link below to explore each of the 8-step structures of thought. Hover over each structure to uncover what the structure means. Next, consider the questions that must be answered in order to make an informed and unbiased decision that leads to the quality of life we desire.

💻: The Critical Thinking Community

Scroll down to the title: “To Analyze Thinking We Must Identify and Question its Elemental Structures.”

Hover the mouse over an element of thought, and the definition and meaning of that element will come up to the right of the elemental structure wheel.

Learning Activities

Activity 6.6: Field Trip

Source: TalkAndroid.com

Unit 6 brings an activity of going on a Field Trip to discover the value of making a decision using critical thinking, even for so-called simple decisions. For instance, when making a decision on where to buy groceries. We often make this type of decision by saying, “I love Costco because of the good price on the large box of crackers.” “I love T and T because of the Chinese take-out.” But, what is it that I really need in choosing a grocery store? The Critical thinking model how to determine what the questions are before looking for the answers.

Questions to Consider

  • Can you think of times when you have used critical thinking?
  • Was it an effective tool? Were you even aware you were using this process?

Summary

In Unit 6, we have had the opportunity to learn about how a key to decision making success is the decision model using critical thinking. At the heart of critical thinking is asking questions rather than looking at a situation or body of information at face value. It is critical thinking that can help us get beyond our biases and look at things from a different perspectives. This leads to creativity and realizing new possibilities. It is critical thinking that is key to the development of a strong, balanced, and effective leader.

Assessment

Field Trip Decision Making Process and Presentation (20%)

Purpose of the Assignment:  On this field trip you will choose which of two like-businesses the best is. The assignment is divided into three parts.

  • To Begin
  • The Field Trip Decision Making Process
  • The Presentation

TO BEGIN

  • Students will do the Field Trip as an Individual or divide into groups of 3 – 5.
  • Choose the two like-businesses you will compare to determine which one is best.
  • Preferred: The Field Trip will include in-person visit as a group. If in-person visits are not possible, online searches may be gathered for the Field Trip information.
  • The Field Trip business to choose: (Examples-not an exclusive list)
  • Hotels
  • Grocery Store
  • Bank
  • Car Dealership
  • Restaurant

FIELD TRIP DECISION MAKING PROCESS

The Field Trip decision making process will follow Steps 1 – 7 found in Analytic Thinking, with a focus on pages 12 - 14

Step 1: Establish the Purpose of the Field Trip (Individually or meet as a group: face to face or Zoom)

  • The purpose of your Field Trip is to determine the two businesses you are comparing
  • The purpose must be specific so the criteria can easily be compared in both locations
    • Example: *“Our purpose is to compare the Gold restaurant and Green restaurant and decide which one is the best location for my 4 year old’s birthday party.”
    • This purpose includes the two places you are comparing, and the definition of best.

Step 2: Questions needed to gain the answers for your purpose.

  • Questions become the purpose for data gathering
  • Design 5 - 7 questions.
  • The questions are exactly related to the purpose.
  • Examples of questions for the Purpose of finding the best restaurant for a 4 year old’s birthday party.
    • Is there a kid-friendly menu?
    • Is there a birthday room for kids?
    • Do they provide balloons?
    • Do they provide party favors?
    • Is the atmosphere conducive to children?

Step 3: Assumptions are the general popular opinions

  • Assumptions are pre-conceived ideas made by people outside of the organization
  • Assumptions may or may not be your opinion.
  • Identifying assumptions will make you mindful of what assumptions are and the need to think beyond them.
  • Example:
    • I assume that Silver restaurant best because kids under 8 years old can eat for free.

Step 4: Point of View is focused on your personal experience.

  • It is similar to your personal bias
  • Like assumptions, by identifying the Point of View, you will be mindful of the point of view and the need to think beyond them.
  • Example Point of View:
    • I ate at the Silver restaurant last year and sat by a man who was loud and obnoxious, which leaves me with a bad impression.

Step 5: Data Gathering where you will find the answers to the questions asked in Step 2

  • Data gathering is gaining the answers to the questions in Section 2 by visiting the business locations.
  • You will gather data that will objectively consider the assumptions and point of view.
  • In data gathering, ideally all members of the group will visit both businesses, or make a virtual visit through online research
  • The type of data gathered must be identical at both locations to make accurate comparisons.
  • Examples of data gathering:
    • Both restaurants provide balloons during the party
    • Only the Silver restaurant offer party favors

Step 6: Concepts

  • Review the concepts or summary of the data gathered.
  • An easy way to do this is restaurant to make a 3 column table.
    • Column 1: List the questions you will answer
    • Column 2: Enter the data collected from location 1.
    • Column 3: Enter the data collected from location 2.
  • Summarize concepts
    • How have your assumptions or biases been impacted
    • How is you point of view impacted
    • Identify how the concepts apply to the purpose

Step 7: Conclusion

  • To make a conclusion, review the purpose of the Field Trip.

  • The conclusion will address the purpose of the decision making process.

  • Example: Conclusion

  • My conclusion is that the Green restaurant is my choice as it has kid friendly amenities, they provide a party room, balloons and party favors, and the atmosphere is kid friendly. The Green restaurant did not have a party room.

PRESENTATION: ORAL AND RECORDED>

  • Oral presentation will be recorded and submitted to the Moodle dropbox.
  • Recording will be submitted into the Moodle dropbox (Groups: each person will submit the identical recording).
  • The presentation will include a description of the 7 Steps of the Field Trip Process.
  • Presenters must use “camera on”.
  • Average length: 10 min.
  • Presentations may include PPT or other creative options as desired.
  • The opening picture on the recording must include the full name and student ID number for each group member.
  • Include references for cited material.

Grading Criteria

Rubric for Presentation

Exceeds expectations (95% - 100%) Meets Expectations (80% - 95%) Minimally Meets Expectations (65% - 80%) Does Not Meet Expectations (40% - 65%)
Addresses Steps 1 - 7 question and process in and insightful manner Addresses the questions or process that are posed Addresses some the questions or problems that are posed with minimal insight on the process Poorly address the questions or problems without insight on the process 
Clear, precise and well-reasoned responses to Steps 1 - 7 = Mostly clear, precise and well-reasoned responses  Some clear, precise and well-reasoned responses Responses lack clarity, logic and/or precision 
Demonstrates strong group process with group independence of thought, insight, and creativity (applies course concepts, raises questions, recognises competing perspectives, and evaluates implications of the decision making process)  Demonstrates some group independence of thought, insight, and creativity. (applies some of the following: course concepts, raises questions, recognises competing perspectives, and evaluates implications of the decision making process)  Demonstrates a minimal amount of independent thought, insight, and creativity.  Response lacks independent thought, insight, and creativity 
High quality of video presentation: clearly communicates process Video presentation clearly communicates process Video presentation is acceptable with does clearly communicate each step or the process Video shows little creativity and process clarity

Checking your Learning

  • Understand the key factors in using critical thinking in decision making
  • Understand the 8-step structure of analytic thinking and how it is a model in decision making.
  • Uncover practical ways critical thinking impacts our decision making as well as applied to different aspects of our life