Part1

DiscoveringStrategiesfor
CriticalThinking
chapter 1 CriticalThinkingin Psychology

Why Should You Read This Book?

"We should be teaching studentshow to think. Instead,we are teaching

them what to think." This quote, taken from Clement & Lochhead's
(1980) Cogtitive ProcessInstructiott, summarizes the rationale for this
book that you are holding in your [Link] want to help you to
become a critical thinker; particularly, we want to help you to learn how
to think critically about psychologicalideas.
Most coursesin psychologyserve two broad goals: (1) to help you
acquire some basic knowledge about psychology, and (2) to help you
learn to think like a [Link] first goal-focusing on "what to
think"-is often so overwhelmingly obvious that studentsmay devote all
their efforts only to acquiring basic [Link] other words, some
students see their only task in a psychologycourse as to memorize as
many facts as [Link] example,in reading a section onpositive
reinforcenrcnr, you may memorize the definition of each key term that is
presented.
The secondgoal-focusing on "how to think"-is sometimesso
subtle that the studentsmay fail to recognizeit. Yet, instructors expect
you to be able to think critically about psychologicalideas and concepts.
For example, in reading a section onpositive reinforcenrcnl, you may
ask yourself, "What claims are being made about the power of positive
reinforcement?" and "Are these claims justified?"
The theme of this book is that for you to become a successful
psychologystudent, you need both basic knowledgeand critical thinking
strategiesfor using that [Link] book is intended to help you in
your attempts to become a critical thinker about psychology.
Citical Thinkittg in Psyclnlogr

What Is Critical Thinking in PsychologSr?

Although teachersmay agree that critical thinking is a lundamental

component in college-levelpsychologycourses,they do not agree on
exactly how to define critical thinking (McPeck, 1981).We define critical
thinking as an active and systematicattempt to understandand evaluate
[Link] definition has six parts:

Citical thittking is an activeprocess. When critical thinkers read their

psychologytextbooks,they do more than simply read every word
and look at every illustration. As a critical thinker, you need to
search for meaning in what you read, that is, to ask yourself,
"Does this make sense?"
Critical thinkirtgis a [Link] searchingfor meaning,
critical thinkers use [Link] a critical thinker,you
need to go about the processof making sensein a step-by-step
manner. In short, you need to ask the qucstion,"How shouldI go
about understandingwhat the author is saying?"
Citical tltittking is basedo,[Link] basic unit of analysisin
critical thinking is the [Link] argumentbeginswith an
assertionabout the proper(iesof some object (e.g.,short-term
memory has a limited capacity)or the relationshipbetwccntwo or
more objects(e.g.,the more motivatcda personis, the better he
or she will perform on any task); and providesevidence(usually
from researchstudies)to support and/or refute the [Link]
need to be able to recognizeand analyzcargumentsinto their
parts.
Citicql thittkirtg ir*,olves undcrstqnditrg otgunrcnls. A critical thinkcr is
able to recognizc arguments that the author makes in a psychology
textbook. As a critical thinker you need to be able to identify the
parts o[ the argument (suchas the assertionand supporting
evidence) and to state the argument in your own words. In short,
you need to able to answer the question,"What argument is the
author making?"
Citical thinking involtes evaluating argtunents.A critical thinker not
only understandsthe author'sarguments,but can also criticize
them. In becominga critical thinker,you need to learn how to
determinewhcther the author'sargumentis valid; that is, you need
to ask, "Should I acccptthe author'sargument?"
 CriticalTlinkingin Psycholog

Citical tltittkirtgis an attentpt Critical thinkers recognizethat there is

no single right way to understandand evaluatewhat they read; and
there is no guarantee that they will alwaysbe successfulin trying
to activelyand systematically understandand evaluatewhat they
read. Critical thinking is an approachto problems,not a specific
procedure that alwaysproduces a correct answer.

Are You a Critical Thinker?

When you are faced with studyingyour psycholory tenbook, do you

behave like a critical thinker? Pleaserate each of the following
statementson a scale from -3 (strongly disagree)to +3 (strongly agree):

I should carcfully read every word.

I should expectthat hard work will improve my pcrformance.
I should focus on the terms and factsthat the author presents.

I should assumethc author is an expert.

If you are like most introductory psychologystudents,you agree

with [Link],we would like to suggcstthat eachof
thcse statementsreflcctsa potentialmisconccptionthat could block your
efforts to bccome a critical thinker.
First, many studentsbclicve that their primaryjob is to carcl-ully
read everyword. Howevcr, as we indicatcdin thc first part o[ our
definition of critical thinking,carcfullyrcadingeachword is just thc
beginning.A critical thinkcr must be activclyinvolvedin making sense
out of the [Link] nced to seeyourselfas a "senscmaker," not
just a "word proccssor."
Second,many studentsbelievethal there is some magicguarantee
of success. A common refrain followingpoor performanceon an cxam is
". but I worked very hard." As suggestedby thc secondpart of the
definition, hard work without a systematicapproach may be wastcd
work. You need to becomea "smart worker," not just a "hard worker."
Third, many studentsbelievethat the main point of psychologyis
to learn to give the definitions of certain key tcrms and to recite facts
about certain key [Link],as we indicatedin the third part of
our definition,critical thinkersfocuson an entirelydifferent aspectof
what the author is saying,namely thc author'[Link] necd to
seeyoursclf as an "argument detector,"not just a "fact collector."
Citical Thinking in Psychologt

Fourth, many students focus ontheproduct-that is, the final

conclusion-of the author's argument rather than on theprocessthe
author used for arriving at the [Link], the fourth part of
our definition makes clear that a critical attitude is at the heart of
critical thinking. When it comes to psychologicalarguments,you need to
focus on processrather than product.
Fifth, many students assumethat the author is an infallible expert
whose wisdom is to be memorized. However, according to the fifth part
of our definition of critical thinking, you need to be a critical consumer
of psychologicalinformation. When it comes to the scienceof psychol-
ogy, it is better to question authority than to accept everythingyou
read.
Sixth, many students harbor the belief that there is some foolproof
system (usually involving almost no effort) that will make learning easy.
However, the sixh part of our definition suggeststhat there is no
shortcut to becoming a critical thinker. You need to see critical thinking
as a goal that needs to be adjusted to specificsituationsrather than as
a well-specified procedure that alwaysworks the same way.
What's missing in your current approach to studying psychology?If
you are like most introductory psychologystudents,you need to become
a more active and critical reader who can identify, analyze,and evaluate
[Link] book is intended to help you achievethis goal.

How Can You Learn to Becomea Critical Thinker?

Learning to become a critical thinker involvesthree levelsof change:an

affective change,a cognitive change,and a behavioralchange.

Affective [Link] first changeinvolvesyour feelingsabout the need

for critical thinking. Your initial assetis your awarenessof the
need to be a critical thinker and your motivation to try out the
methodssuggestedin this book. This will take commitmentto
becominga critical thinker as well as the realizationthat you may
need to modity our methods to fit your [Link] 1 of
this book focuseson changingyour feelingsabout the importance
of critical thinking.
[Link] second changeinvolvesacquiring specific knowl-
edge about strategiesfor critical thinking. Chapters2 and 3 of this
book present some specific strategiesfor how to improve your
critical thinking in [Link] main focus is on strategiesfor
understandingand evaluatingargumentsin your psychology
textbook.
 Critical Thinking in Psychologt

Behaviorql change. The third change involves your behavior when you
read a psychologyteKbook. The exercisesin this book, particularly
chapters 4 through 8, are intended to help you apply your knowl-
edge of critical thinking strategiesto the outlining of your
teKbook.

In short, becoming a critical thinker involvesyour heart, your

head, and your hand. You need to develop a commitment to critical
thinking (affective change),to acquire specificknowledge about how to
be a critical thinker (cognitive change),and to actually apply that
knowledge when you read your psychologytextbook (behavioral change).

Summary

A successfulpsychologystudentneedsto learn both specificinformation

about psychologyand tcchniquesfor how to think criticallyin
psychology.
Critical thinking in psychologyis an activeand systematicattempt
to understandand evaluatearguments.
Becoming a critical thinker involvesaffective,cognitive,and
bchavioralchanges.