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CRITICAL THINKING
The Importance of Thinking Critically for Medical Student
Nawi Ng
Department of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine
Gadjah Mada University
An example of Critical Thinking at Work: Why is a fire engine red?
A fire engine has four wheels and four firemen Four plus four is eight.
Eight inches make a rulerOne of the greatest rulers was Queen Elizabeth.
She knighted drake, who sailed the Seven Seas.
In the Seven Seas are fishesAnd fishes have fins
The Finns fought the Russians.And the Russian flag is red !!
Therefore, I conclude, the fire engine is red.
(Quoted from The Effective Student, National University of Singapore)
Objective
1. To understand critical thinking and its application in medical
setting.
2. To identify critical thinking characteristics
3. To comprehend critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills and
their relation to evidence-based medicine.
Solving problems in
problem-based-learning
approach needs critical
thinking and reasoning
skills.
Critical thinking is a
decision-making process.
Reasoning skills will guide us to use our good common sense and base
our reasons to do things in facts, evidence, and logical conclusion
rather than our emotion. Medical students are of no doubt need to
practice their reasoning skills. Any decision made should be based
objectively on facts, problems, and evidence from patients. Decision on
patient management should be taken logically instead of emotionally.
A reason is a justification
for thoughts, actions, and
opinions.
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Seeks reasons and suspends judgment until all facts have been
gathered and considered. A critical thinker always looks for
evidence to support assumption and beliefs. He looks for proof and
examines problems closely
Takes into account the total situation. Being critical means that one
is able to clearly define a set of criteria for analyzing ideas
Tries to remain relevant to the main point and always ask pertinent
questions. A critical thinker is able to reject information that is
incorrect or irrelevant and always keep in mind the original concern
A critical thinker :
Make judgment on
evidence instead of
emotion
Ask question and being
curious
Intellectually independent
Being honest and openminded
Explore all possibilities
and connection between
situations
Never oversimplify
complex problems
Is able to argue and
present sound point of
view
Collaborative learning is
superior to individual
learning.
Collaborative learning
enhances drill-and
practice and critical
thinking skills.
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Exploring facts
Doing observation
Making inferences
Stating assumptions
Developing arguments
Forming opinions
Analyze arguments
critically
Blooms Taxonomy of
Higher Level of Thinking:
Application
Knowledge
Comprehension
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
These higher levels of
thinking are hierarchal in
order.
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Problem solving is
basically a decision
making process.
1. Identifying
problems
2. Breaking problem
into its part
3. Prioritizing issues - One should list and rank issues that need to
be addressed. Ranking issues will enable one to see if there is
any issue that should be dealt with before others.
3. Prioritizing issues
4. Relevance of
issues
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Reference
C
I
1. Gokhale AA.. 1995. Collaborative Learning Enhances Critical Thinking. Journal of Technology
Education 7(1). Available at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu.
2. Tice ET. What is Critical Thinking? University of Phoenix.
3. Chelsa E. 1999. Critical Thinking and Logic Skills for College Students. Prentice Hall, London.
4. National University of Singapore. 2001. The Effective Student: A Guide to Higher Education at
NUS. 8th Edition. Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning. National University of
Singapore. Singapore.
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