Critical thoughts about critical thinking：关于批判性思维批判性思考.pdfVIP

Critical thoughts about critical thinking GARY KLEIN1 Klein Associates, A Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. Fairborn, OH, USA DRAFT manuscript Submitted to Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science December 2009 1 Email: gklein@ Abstract: For occupations such as intelligence analysis a great deal of effort has gone into developing critical thinking training and methods. These programs have a great deal of value, but they may also have drawbacks. This article discusses several problems with critical thinking programs and suggests that their emphasis on reducing mistakes needs to be balanced by an orientation to increase insights. Key words: Critical thinking, insight, intelligence, mistakes I. Introduction Critical thinking is a central component of human intelligence, and is responsible for many achievements. Sternberg (1996) presented a tripartite model of the thinking skills responsible for successful intelligence: critical thinking, creative thinking, and practical thinking. For Sternberg, critical thinking involves analytical thinking such as analyzing, critiquing, judging, evaluating, comparing and contrasting, and is different from creative thinking and practical thinking. Halpern (2002) has described critical thinking as “ …thinking that is purposeful, reasoned, and goal directed – the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions…” (p. 37). Halpern (2007) has claimed that critical thinking can be taught in schools. Her claim is based on the assumptions that there are clearly identifiable and definable critical thinking skills that students can be taught to apply. Moore (2007) defined critical thinking as “…a deliberate meta-cognitive and cognitive act whereby a person reflects on the quality of the reasoning process simultaneously while reasoning to a conclusion. The thinker has two equally important goals: coming to a solution and improving the wa