Improving Students’ Critical Thinking: Empirical Support for Explicit Instructions Combined with Practice

This article sheds light on the impacts of different types of critical thinking dispositions and instruction for creating bias among the reasoning performance of economics students. The research objectives are to identify the different instruments of critical thinking process and those impact on the reasoning performance of the economics students. The research has been developed based on primary questions of how the critical thinking skills can be enhanced in terms of improving the ability of individuals. The article has introduced different toolkits, which plays an influential role in case of developing the critical thinking abilities of the students.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Critical thinking and decision making
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Reference list...................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Critical thinking process has brought major contribution in case of driving the decision
making abilities of individuals. The purpose of this essay is to shed light on ‘Improving
Students’ Critical Thinking: Empirical Support for Explicit Instructions Combined with Practice’
and critically analyze its research objectives. After identification of the research methodology
and findings, strength as well as weaknesses of the research have been highlighted. In the critical
evaluation process, overall values of the research has been discussed based on its future scope.
Discussion
Critical analysis
In this article namely ‘Improving Students’ Critical Thinking: Empirical Support for
Explicit Instructions Combined with Practice’ the author has shed light on the impacts of
different types of critical thinking dispositions and instruction for creating bias among the
reasoning performance of economics students (Heijltjes, Van Gog and Paas 2014). In this article,
it has been identified that in case of understanding the intelligence, good thinking process is not
enough. In order to enhance the critical thinking process of the students’ both the positive and
negative learning events can play an important role. It is true that based on the analysis it has
been identified that critical thinking ability of individuals has strong impact in case of driving the
positive thinking abilities of individuals. By continuing this, it can be said that the critical
thinking ability of individuals has strong impact in case of highlighting the risk management and
higher educational process.
The research objectives are to identify the different instruments of critical thinking
process and those impact on the reasoning performance of the economics students. The research

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has been developed based on primary questions of how the critical thinking skills can be
enhanced in terms of improving the ability of individuals. Analyzing the core research questions,
it has been identified that critical thinking abilities can play an important role for increasing the
problem solving abilities of individuals. By continuing this, it can also be said that the research
questions have played a significant role on case of identifying the dual processing models in case
of highlighting the biased reasoning process.
In order to conduct the research, both the primary and secondary sources have been used
by the researcher. Secondary information has been collected from journals and articles. In case of
primary data, survey method has been followed. Using the primary data collection method the
survey has been conducted by the author with the total numbers of 141 students. Analyzing the
major findings of this research, it can be said that in the higher educational system, the
effectiveness of critical thinking ability cannot be denied. Here the author has focused on the
interrelationship between critical thinking ability and individuals’ intelligence. In this research it
has been identified that the strong interrelationship between explicit critical thinking and practice
opportunity bring the impact on performance improvement. Based on the study it has been
examined by me that unbiased learning functions are being influenced by the performance
opportunities provided by the teachers.
Critical revaluation
In this article, the implementation process of critical thinking has been considered as the
important process for influencing the problem solving abilities of individuals. By continuing this
it can also be said that in the article, the importance of the critical problem solving abilities have
been mentioned as the important part for influencing biased reasoning process of the economics
students. As per my understanding, by introducing the problem based learning approach as well

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as mathematical critical thinking ability for individuals, it can be beneficial for the higher
education institutions to increase intelligence efficiency. In this article it has been identified that
in order to enhance the problem solving abilities of individuals, critical thinking ability is
important. Major strength of this article is here the strong contribution of mathematical analysis
in critical thinking process has been highlighted in details. It cannot be denied that usefulness of
critical thinking ability in case of dealing with the real life world (Butler, Pentoney and Bong
2017). Here the author has focused on the interrelationship between critical thinking ability and
individuals’. As per my understanding, the study has provided information regarding the
individuals’ predictions and those impacts on the critical thinking process, which can be
beneficial for others in the learning process. The author has shed light on the goals of higher
education based on Subject comprehension and critical thinking (Bellaera, Debney and Baker
2018). In this theory different critical thinking factors such as students’ beliefs, attitudes and
characteristics have been highlighted. In this research it has been identified that the strong
interrelationship between explicit critical thinking and Subject Comprehension can bring the
impact on performance improvement. The research has been developed based on primary
questions of how the critical thinking can be implemented in colleges in terms of improving the
ability of individuals. I believe, which can play an important for driving the future scope of
research in the decision making process. However, in the article, bias reasoning process has been
considered as the important part of critical thinking, however, I strongly believe, the field of
critical thinking is not limited and based on different situational impacts, the thinking process
can be changed.
The major strength of this article is by specifying the area of improvement, it will be
easier for the institutions to adopt such approaches based on the required field. On the other

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hand, aim of this article is to focus on understanding the impact of the critical thinking for
developing and testing in the reflection learning (Carter, Creedy and Sidebotham 2017). Based
on the analysis it has been identified that valid and reliable measures of critical thinking is
important in case of reflection writing. On the other hand, it is also true that the article has
focused only one area which has limited its learning field. As per my understanding, the
institutions which provides the midwifery educational facility can effectively implement the
critical thinking strategy. Analyzing the major strength of this article, it has been identified that
the in this article has clearly mentioned about the effective teaching practices through the critical
thinking process. On the other hand, analyzing the weaknesses of this article, it has been
identified by me that in the analysis of this article, it has not mentioned about the importance of
developing the motivational beliefs in critical thinking abilities. Analyzing the weakness of this
article, it has been identified that it has not highlighted the cognitive strategies the strong
relationship between constructive learning and critical thinking ability. However, it is also true
that due specification of the field, the implementation of this theory in really tough.
As per my understanding, not only the in the reasoning filed by also the critical thinking
ability plays a significant role in case of enhancing the intellectual abilities of individuals. In this
article namely ‘Guiding online group discussion enhances student critical thinking skills’ aims to
introduce the cognitive strategies for enhancing the critical thinking ability for individuals. Major
strength of this article is here thee author has focused on online group discussion process as the
important part of critical thinking developing process. However, offline discussion can also play
an important role for highlighting the critical thinking skills of individuals which has not been
mentioned here. I also believe that rather than focusing on a particular area, the article could
have focused on others fields of critical thinking. I believe, the researcher should have focused

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on the methods of implementing the critical thinking. Based on the analysis of the study, it has
been identified by me that economics learners may also face the difficulties in case of
understanding the power empirical designs of the learning process. By exploring different
factors, which brings the strong impact on critical thinking process, the researcher has introduced
an effective outcome, which can help to open the further research scope in this field. Analyzing
the entire research concept, it has been identified by me that the research paper has shed light on
the critical thinking ability elements in case of introducing better learning practices. As per my
understanding, the critical thinking ability helps to develop the integrated knowledge structure of
individuals. In the professional as well as personal field, complex decision making situation
needs to be handled based on the critical thinking ability of people.
By supporting this, in the ‘Teaching Critical Thinking Skills: Ability, Motivation,
Intervention, and the Pygmalion Effect’ article, the researcher highlighted the important elements
of critical thinking process in teaching (Howard, Tang and Austin 2015). In the research, it has
been identified that based on the analysis, the without the intervention process, it is tough for the
students to develop the critical thinking process. It has also been identified that based on the
correlation between negative mastery goals and positive performance goals, critical thinking
ability score may differ. I believe, the article has introduced different toolkits, which plays an
influential role in case of developing the critical thinking abilities of the students. I believe, it has
made strong contribution towards the goals and it has also been identified that critical thinking
toolkits have strong impact in case of analyzing the behavioral support of individuals. For
ensuring the positive support towards the students’ growth if the teachers will effectively
introduce the critical thinking elements, it can helps to contribute in the future educational
growth process. Analyzing the strength and weaknesses of this organization, it can be said that

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this article has played an important role for understanding the importance of student perceptions
towards implementing the critical thinking process.
Conclusion
In order to measure the critical thinking abilities, gender as well as classification do not
bring great impact. In order to enhance the critical thinking process of the students’ appraisal
exams can play an important role. There is a strong interrelationship between critical thinking
ability and demographic characteristics. As per my understanding, the study has provided
information regarding the important components of bias reasoning, which can be beneficial for
others in the learning process. Based on the analysis, it has been identified that critical thinking
process has strong impact on the reflection development. As per my understanding, this article
can help to design the critical thinking skills in proper manner, which can be beneficial for
increasing the efficiency in learning process.

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Reference list
Bellaera, L., Debney, L. and Baker, S.T., 2018. Subject Comprehension and Critical Thinking:
An Intervention for Subject Comprehension and Critical Thinking in Mixed-Academic-Ability
University Students. The Journal of General Education, 65(3-4), pp.264-282.
Butler, H.A., Pentoney, C. and Bong, M.P., 2017. Predicting real-world outcomes: Critical
thinking ability is a better predictor of life decisions than intelligence. Thinking Skills and
Creativity, 25, pp.38-46.
Carter, A.G., Creedy, D.K. and Sidebotham, M., 2017. Critical thinking evaluation in reflective
writing: Development and testing of Carter Assessment of Critical Thinking in Midwifery
(Reflection). Midwifery, 54, pp.73-80.
Carter, A.G., Sidebotham, M., Creedy, D.K., Fenwick, J. and Gamble, J., 2014. Using root cause
analysis to promote critical thinking in final year Bachelor of Midwifery students. Nurse
education today, 34(6), pp.1018-1023.
Gokhale, A. and Machina, K., 2018. Guided Online Group Discussion Enhances Student Critical
Thinking Skills. International Journal on E-Learning, 17(2), pp.157-173.
Heijltjes, A., Van Gog, T. and Paas, F., 2014. Improving students' critical thinking: Empirical
support for explicit instructions combined with practice. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 28(4),
pp.518-530.
Howard, L.W., Tang, T.L.P. and Austin, M.J., 2015. Teaching critical thinking skills: Ability,
motivation, intervention, and the Pygmalion effect. Journal of Business Ethics, 128(1), pp.133-
147.

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Huber, C.R. and Kuncel, N.R., 2016. Does college teach critical thinking? A meta-
analysis. Review of Educational Research, 86(2), pp.431-468.
Kwan, Y.W. and Wong, A.F., 2015. Effects of the constructivist learning environment on
students’ critical thinking ability: Cognitive and motivational variables as
mediators. International Journal of Educational Research, 70, pp.68-79.
Stupple, E.J., Maratos, F.A., Elander, J., Hunt, T.E., Cheung, K.Y. and Aubeeluck, A.V., 2017.
Development of the Critical Thinking Toolkit (CriTT): A measure of student attitudes and
beliefs about critical thinking. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 23, pp.91-100.
White, L.M., Beck, M.M., Birrenkott, G., Skewes, P.A. and Layfield, K.D., 2015. Demographic
predictors of critical thinking ability in undergraduate animal science students. NACTA
Journal, 59(1), p.49.
Widyatiningtyas, R., Kusumah, Y.S., Sumarmo, U. and Sabandar, J., 2015. THE IMPACT OF
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING APPROACH TO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS’MATHEMATICS CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY. Journal on Mathematics
Education, 6(2), pp.107-116.