Cognitive load of critical thinking strategies

Abstract

Critical thinking is important for today's life, where individuals daily face unlimited amounts of information, complex problems, and rapid technological and social changes. Therefore, critical thinking should be the focus of general education and educators' efforts (Angeli & Valanides, 2009; Oliver & Utermohlen, 1995). Despite passively agreeing or disagreeing with a line of reasoning, critical thinkers use analytical skills to comprehend and evaluate its merits, considering strengths and weaknesses. Critical thinkers also analyze arguments, recognizing the essentiality of asking for reasons and considering alternative views and developing their own point of view (Paul, 1990). Kuhn and Udell (2007) emphasize that the ability to participate in sound argument is central to critical thinking and is essential to skilled decision making. Nussbaum and Schraw (2007) emphasized that effective argumentation includes not only considering counterarguments but also evaluating, weighing, and combining the arguments and counterarguments into support for a final conclusion. Nussbaum and Schraw called this process argument-counterargument integration. The authors identified three strategies that could be used to construct an integrative argument in the context of writing reflective essays: a refutation, weighing, and design claim strategy. They also vii DEDICATION This accomplishment is dedicated to my husband, Dr. Eng. Khaled Moustafa, who was a continuous source of strength to me. I will forever be grateful for his support. I also dedicate it to my loving mother, Mubaraka Alsaeed, and to my deceased father, who hoped to witness that moment, both taught me to have hope and to work hard to achieve my goals. I also dedicate this dissertation to the light of my life, my kids, Zeyad and Omar, who lived every moment of this dissertation with me and were patient while they waited for their mommy to finish her big homework. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS

Clinical Reasoning in Physical Therapy: A Concept Analysis

“…[123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130] Related concepts and antecedents directed at cues, 122,123,131 key features, 132 hypothesis testing [127][128][129]133 and statements made or a situation presented. 126,133,134 The consequence was a formed judgement 125,127,[135][136][137] and attributes included critical thinking, 122,134,136,[138][139][140][141][142][143] reflection, 141 weighing information, 132 flexibility in thinking. 142 There is recognition that human reasoning is error prone.…”

“…126,133,134 The consequence was a formed judgement 125,127,[135][136][137] and attributes included critical thinking, 122,134,136,[138][139][140][141][142][143] reflection, 141 weighing information, 132 flexibility in thinking. 142 There is recognition that human reasoning is error prone. [124][125][126][127][128][129]133,[143][144][145] Many of the psychology articles were primarily discussing medical reasoning related to physician diagnoses and problem solving.…”

Motivation

“…• Critical thinking skills: To the extent that critical thinking is effortful (Shehab & Nussbaum, 2015, it presumably requires more motivation than other, more superficial forms of thinking (see Miele & Wigfield, 2014).…”

Physics knowledge justification: an analysis framework to examine physics content knowledge

“…Argumentation usually refers to the use of arguments in which also rhetoric plays a central role in convincing the opponent. This study concentrates only on argumentation which emphasizes knowledge justification and knowledge claims supported by evidence and reasoning (Shehab & Nussbaum, 2015;Toulmin, 2003). When assessing arguments from this point of view, we concentrate on the credibility, relevance, logic and harmony of the claim and its warrant, and the clarity of concepts.…”