Professionals in Health Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Professionals in HealthProfessionals in Health

Critical Thinking

and

Problem Solving

ProblemProblem

• There are four large boxes

• Inside each large box is a medium box

• Inside each medium box are two smaller boxes

• Inside each small box there are four tiny boxes

How many boxes are there all together?

Types of ThinkingTypes of Thinking

DEDUCTIVE REASONING

• a form of logical thinking in which a conclusion is reached based on true facts called premises.

Example of Deductive ReasoningExample of Deductive Reasoning

• Premise: patients with advanced lung disease will experience shortness of breath on exertion.

• Premise: Bob has advanced lung disease and is trying to help his daughter move.

• Conclusion: Bob will experience shortness of breath with helping his daughter move.

• The conclusion in deductive reasoning is always true if the premises are true.

Types of thinkingTypes of thinking

• INDUCTIVE REASONING

• a form of logical reasoning where a best guess is made based on the premises or facts.

Example of Inductive reasoningExample of Inductive reasoning

• Observation: person to person blood transfusions were most often successful when the donor was a family member or close relative

• Hypothesis: the blood of family members is closer in structure to that of non-family members and so doesn’t cause the problems with clotting.

• Proven theory: scientists discovered blood groups and since this is hereditary the hypothesis is proven true and becomes a theory

• The conclusion has a high probability of being true, but is not always true.

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Many Definitions

•The ability to suspend judgment

•The ability to consider alternatives

•The ability to analyze and evaluate

•Purposeful, goal-directed thinking

All the definitions include the ability to develop a hypothesis, to test and rate possible solutions and to maintain an objective viewpoint.

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t - you are probably right.” Henry Ford

•Critical thinking can be developed and improved with practice.

Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

• The generation of ideas that results in the improvement of the efficiency or the effectiveness of the system

Vertical ThinkingVertical Thinking

• Relies on logic and each idea relates to the next.

• Allows assumptions to be made based on past experiences and relies on logical thinking.

• Includes deductive and inductive reasoning

Lateral ThinkingLateral Thinking

• Creates new ideas by making connections with no set pathway

• Takes stored information and relates it in a previously unrelated manner

Directed ThinkingDirected Thinking

• Highly controlled

• Conscious effort is made to solve a specific problem or situation.

• Examples are learning, reasoning and decision making.

Undirected ThinkingUndirected Thinking

• Loose and free flowing without an apparent goal.

• Examples include dreaming and day dreaming.

Strategies for Thinking CriticallyStrategies for Thinking Critically

• Define the problem to be resolved. Identify the issues involved in clear terms.

• Form a tentative hypothesis. Look for reasonable explanations of characteristics, behavior and events.

• Examine all the evidence available. Be wary of people’s self reports as valid evidence.

• Analyze assumptions. Examine what is meant by concepts used in discussion.

Strategies continuedStrategies continued

• Avoid oversimplification. Look beyond the obvious.

• Be careful about drawing conclusions. Wait for more evidence when conflict in data.

• Consider alternative interpretations.

• Recognize the implications of research. Look for ways to apply your knowledge.

Assessing Your ThinkingAssessing Your Thinking

• To continually improve your own thinking it is essential that you continually ask yourself questions.

QuestionsQuestions

• What am I trying to accomplish?

• How can I determine if I am accomplishing it?

• What question am I trying to answer?

• What information do I need?

• Do I need to look at my subject from more than one point of view?

• Am I making assumptions?

Questions continuedQuestions continued

• Where is my reasoning going?

• What concepts or ideas are prominent in my thinking?

• How clear and precise is my use of words?

• Am I addressing the question or issue at a superficial or deep level?

Profile of a Critical ThinkerProfile of a Critical Thinker

• Reasons their way through to a position by considering evidence available

• Knows that objections are likely to be raised to a position, and knows how to examine positions.

Profile continuedProfile continued

• Does not allow anecdotal evidence to carry undue weight in reflections.

• Realizes the effect that emotions, feelings and prejudices may have on thinking.

• Is willing to revise a position in light of the reasoning of others and of contrary evidence.


• Is sensitized to demands of clarity and is able to detect objectionable vagueness in own thinking and in the thinking of others.

• Remains unimpressed by the sheer force of someone’s rhetoric and conviction when these masquerade as substitutes for reasoning.


• Stops to think before arriving at a judgement.

• Thinks, judges and acts mindful of the limitations of time and information imposed by the situation.

Decision Making/Problem Solving ProcessDecision Making/Problem Solving Process

• Five steps are involved in the decision making/problem solving process


Define the Opportunity for Positive Change

• Looking at the decision or problem as an opportunity is the foundation of beginning a great solution.

• Increases the chances for proactive thinking.• Get all facts and data before going on to the

next step.• Discern what is fact and what is not.


Generate Ideas Concerning the Opportunity

• Use creative thinking techniques:– Associative thinking and visualization– Brainstorming– Make analogies


Evaluate Ideas and Select the Best One.

• Use analytical thinking to evaluate each idea

• Weigh the pros and cons of all options


Implement the Chosen Strategy

• Put the idea into action.


Evaluate and Modify Accordingly

• Does the solution have a desirable effect?• If not, rethink all possible solutions.• Get feedback from others.• Modify strategies.

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Professionals in Health Critical Thinking and Problem Solving