critical thinking barriers

critical thinking barriers

Critical Thinking: Overcoming Barriers

1. Introduction

Our previous work on the barriers to critical thinking reported a complex array of barriers that impede critical thinking in nursing practice and concluded that a taxonomy or classification of critical thinking, with development of specific knowledge, skills and attitudes in mind, is a starting point for work to overcome those barriers. The holistic nursing practice model that was originally developed in our earlier critical thinking work has been used for the past two years to guide transformative change in the work environments of practicing nurses. This model applies principles of empowerment, reflective and deliberate practice, experiential learning, and changes to the work environment or culture to create a positive change in patient outcomes. Step one in that process is development of knowledge, skills and attitudes specific to the area of change. This iterative application of the holistic model to various workplace issues has revealed what we believe to be a simpler, more comprehensive list of critical thinking abilities that can function as a classification, in contrast to the complex list of barriers previously mentioned. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the implications of this classification system on the previous findings, to provide a historical background of this simplification process and to present this new classification of critical thinking. This work is intended as a first step in a future study of the abilities, with the ultimate goal of development of teaching-learning strategies that can result in improvement of patient outcomes.

2. Recognizing Cognitive Biases

What makes a good decision? The answer is not always straightforward. We make so many decisions in a day that it is not always practical to spend time reasoning out each one. Decisions range from trivial to very important, and can affect one person or many people. Some decisions are made to solve problems, others are made to take advantage of an opportunity, and still others are made to avert embarrassment. Decision making in important medical and legal situations serve as prototypes for all decision making, and much study has been done to identify how we can make the best decisions. Making good decisions is a valuable skill, one that can be learned and developed, and one that is worth honing. This is because good decisions serve as the backbone of our lives, providing structure and direction. When we have the ability to make good decisions we are able to solve problems, take advantage of opportunities, and side step any embarrassment that may occur. Decisions that result from careful thought often lead to substantial long-term gains, while hasty decisions made without thinking can produce short-term benefits, often at the expense of higher long-term gains, and can sometimes lead to disaster.

3. Developing Analytical Skills

Analytical skill is the ability to deconstruct information into smaller categories in order to draw conclusions. In terms of thinking process, it involves the breaking down of complex information into smaller elements, spotting the connections among the elements, evaluating the information by considering implications and examining evidence, and coming to the conclusion. Analytical thinking is a thinking process or skill in which an individual has the ability to solve problems quickly and make wanted decisions. They may think in an exceptional way and think of various ideas on how to solve a problem. Analytic thinkers may make unexpected connections between things and ideas as they develop solutions to problems. This activity involves developing the skill of looking at information and looking for trends or meaningful patterns. It is actually a matter of seeing the detail but realizing the big picture in respect to the information. With an initial preparation of assessment of a problematic situation, the individual can then start to look at the plans or actions so to form a judgment on the presented information; this is known as decision making. An effective decision maker will have the capability to make a sound decision with the available information and analysis. These skills are all part of the process in which individuals can improve their abilities to think critically and overcome problems in an effective way. There are various methods and applications that one can use to improve their analytical thinking skills; some are more effective than others and may take a shorter or longer amount of time to take effect.

4. Challenging Assumptions and Beliefs

To modify the way we think, it is essential to identify and question our beliefs and assumptions, and to challenge their validity. Beliefs have a truth value, whether they are looked upon as facts or opinions and can be said to be either true or false in the light of the evidence that supports them. Assumptions are also truth-apt: they can be said to be either warranted or unwarranted. It is helpful to begin by reflecting on any issue or problem and identifying the beliefs and assumptions that are being maintained about it. A useful way to display the information generated by identifying the beliefs and assumptions on an issue is with a belief and assumption map. This is a type of concept map that shows the beliefs, assumptions, and inferences or propositions in an issue. A belief will be used as a key term and assumptions will be linked to it as sub-concepts. This is then used to clearly define the problem and the inferences made from the beliefs and assumptions. The map will be used later as a basis to identify any inferences and implications and will also act as a conclusion that what is being inferred should have been inferred from the original belief. It will translate changing what is being inferred back to the original belief, using it as an implication, and the positive and negative implications will be the involuntary and voluntary consequences. Inference is taking belief to its logical conclusion and asking what must be true for this to be true. This underlying logical structure is sound if it only has one interpretation but usually has many meanings or is open to a different interpretation. This is hard to identify and can sometimes make people argue for long periods about the way in which a belief or assumption should be interpreted. This is an argument over what the belief is. At this stage, it is clear what must be done if the meaning is not interpretation. The only way to prove a belief or assumption is wrong is to show that the belief has an implication that was not wanted or to prove that it is an involuntary assumption that has a negative consequence. This will lead us onto the next step of assessing the implications and consequences of our beliefs and assumptions.

5. Applying Critical Thinking in Decision Making

The power of the mind in decision making is an often neglected art. The human brain is often said to have two kinds of problem-solving skills. The first one is analytical, meaning the decision making is step by step and considers different solutions, and the second is intuitive, meaning it is spontaneous and utilizes mental shortcuts. A major breakthrough in decision-making techniques came with the development of the science of reasoning. Since the 1960s, reflection and reasoning were brought into decision-making technology in a big way. Decision analysts asserted that in order for a choice to be optimal, it must be both logically sound and provide a maximal expected value. Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of evaluation. Good critical thinking is the foundation of science and democracy. Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theory confirmation. The proper way to think and analyze an issue is to gather all possible information on that issue. Reason out the information, considering the point of view of others in the form of a theory, and then test that reasoning through the point of view of others and the test of reality. If it is a sound theory, it will stand up to the test of time and reality. Democracy requires a clear, sound understanding of complex issues. Citizens vote on issues and candidates, and those votes affect the issue of power that those candidates hold. Voting in a candidate is like making a choice, and if done through biased or unclean reasoning, it can lead to detrimental effects. So the future of our world rests in the minds of those who will evaluate and reason, applying these skills to a decision has the power to change the world.