N_Brady_models of thinking_116
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Apr 3, 2024
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Models of Thinking
Nancy Rizzo Brady
University of Phoenix
DOC 714S: Symposium I
J. Medgar Roberts Ed. D/E. T.
January 16, 2023
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The class was concentrating on critical thinking, assumptions, and inferences this week. The students evaluated a scenario and had to make assumptions about what was happening in the
story. The evaluation process of that exercise brought into play the importance of critical thinking. “Because few people realize the powerful role that thinking plays in their lives, few gain significant command of their thinking. Therefore, most people are in many ways “victims” of their thinking–harmed rather than helped by it. Most people are their own worst enemy… think at the unconscious level most of the time, never putting the details of their thinking into words…they have little command of their thinking…they are unable to adequately analyze and assess their thought” (Paul & Elder, 2014, p. xv). When evaluating situations people often make assumptions without clearly defining what is truly happening or looking at a situation as whole. This can cause the assumptions to be incorrect. This is where critical thinking and creative thinking become a crucial part of the process.
There are many models of thinking a person can choose from. The ladder of inference is the reflective loop, our beliefs affect what date we select next time (University of Phoenix, 2021). The Diamond logic process includes the steps of observation, generalization, prediction, and verification (University of Phoenix, 2021). The attitude choice model, activating event, belief/assumptions, consequences, emotions responses and attitude (Ritter – Williams, 2007). What model you associate with will define the choices you make when thinking about a situation
and coming to conclusions.
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Of all the models of thinking, the ladder of inference, in my thought process, is the most cohesive. It clearly defines the steps people follow when making decisions.
The ladder of inference is a tool that explains how we make decisions. Each step in the decision-making process is represented by a rung on the ladder—so you start at the bottom, then climb each rung before making a decision and taking action. The ladder of inference isn’t a series of steps you should follow to make good decisions. Instead, it outlines the way we naturally make judgements
about situations and how we’re influenced by
cognitive bias
—thinking errors that make us misinterpret information. When you understand how the ladder of inference works, you become aware of how your assumptions lead to specific conclusions. That awareness can ultimately help you avoid cognitive bias, stop treating your beliefs as truth, and make better decisions for you and your team (MacNeil, 2022).
My thought process best aligns with the ladder of inference. In my decision-making process, I analyzed the actions of each person in the story. When reading the scenario, I analyzed the environment and people within the story. I collected the data such as who was in the store, what time of day, was it a man or a woman. I looked at the meaning of the data. Just because it said that the owner opened the cash register did it mean he was robbed? Was the person who ran out, in fact the robber. Was it day or night? I then took that information and made assumptions and was able to draw conclusion. I could then determine if statements were true, false, or unknown. Following the ladder, I was able make decisions based on the data I observed and draw conclusions.
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Once I determined who the players were in the scenario presented, the robber, the boss, the
police, I made assumptions on what happened based on the role they played and the background data that was presented. This exercise allowed me to take a step back and really evaluate how I looked at a situation and made assumptions and inferences that may not have been correct. Critical thinking and taking the time to look at things through the ladder of inference as well as looking at the other models has changed how I will evaluate things in the future.
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References
Cooper, T. (2018). Toward a Creative Criticality: Revisiting Critical Thinking. Integral Leadership Review, 18(1), 41–48.
MacNeil, C (2022) The ladder of inference: How to avoid assumptions and make better decisions
Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2014). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your professional and personal life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
University of Phoenix, 2021 Models of Thinking Presentation
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