Critical thinking in science
Critical thinking in science
Scientific critical thinking implies more than generic critical thinking. Neither open mindedness nor common sense suffice. Crucial elements include familiarity with the nature of science, the experimental method and the accumulated wisdom of particular sciences. Piagetan formal reasoning skills are basic tools along with the following:
1- Distinguishing correlation from cause and effect
2- Distinguishing analysis from description
3- Recognizing important variables in complex phenomena
4- Knowing and understanding basic scientific concepts (e.g, force, chemical bond, etc)
5- Understanding reductionism and knowing when to use it.
6- Isolating and testing variables
7- Knowing the value of prediction vs. retrodiction
8- Distinguishing scientific evidence, reasoning and rationalizing
9- Understanding why a given concept is accepted by the scientific community
10- Familiarity with and ability to navigate scientific literature
Waging war on evolution, the problem with critical thinking
Making decisions, Unsatisfactory knowledge
Thinking, Creativity, Critical thinking in science