Critical Thinking and Debiasing: Experimentation in an Academic Writing Course

Abstract

In the last two decades, interest in cognitive biases has rapidly grown across various fields of study. The research so far has shown that cognitive biases have significant and sometimes adverse effects on decision making. Thus, it is increasingly being argued that classroom teaching of critical thinking needs to include instruction and training that help students understand cognitive biases and reduce their negative effects on judgment and decision making. Teaching students to be aware of biases and to develop and maintain strategies to reduce their influence is known as debiasing. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of cognitive biases and a framework for debiasing proposed by Wilson and Brekke (1994). Two approaches, modifying the person and modifying the environment, are discussed to help teachers introduce activities and strategies to mitigate biases. 認知バイアスへの関心は、この20年で様々な領域で急激に高まってきた。認知バイアスが、意思決定に対し有意な影響、時には逆効果を及ぼすことが、これまでの研究で明らかになった。そのため、教室で批判的思考を教える場合も、学生の認知バイアスへの理解に役立ち、認知バイアスが判断力や意思決定に対して及ぼす、時には有害な影響を弱める思考法を教える練習ないし訓練を組み込む必要があるのではないだろうか。学生がバイアスを認識し、その影響を払拭ないし弱める思考法を身につけてそれを維持するよう教えることは、デバイアスという名称で知られている。本稿では、認知バイアスとWilson and Brekke (1994) が提案するデバイアスのプロセスを概観する。教師がバイアスを和らげるための活動と戦略を紹介できるように、人間を修正し、環境を修正するという二つの取り組みについても検討する。

Сritical Thinking Development in Foreign Language Classes

“…Through authentic models of effective communication, students build fluency in the listening, reading and speaking skills needed to achieve academic and personal success. Smith, G., & Peloghitis, J. (2020) claim that critical thinking education in academic writing courses should include extensive practical guidance on how to apply debiasing strategies and structure one's environment to create optimal decisions.…”

“…The main facts about the historical path of critical thinking are presented starting with the ideas of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle followed by representatives of the Renaissance. Modern publications of philologists and scientists John Hughes, Paul Dummett (2019); Pagan Castalo, Christen Li (2017); Smith, G., & Peloghitis, J. (2020) and others are aimed to teaching students to think critically and communicate effectively.…”