Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

PS 651Chapter ReviewCaldwell College Marcus Lozano

AgendaAgenda

Definition of Critical thinkingCritical vs. Casual thinkingFad treatmentsSilly videoReview

Wikipedia DefinitionWikipedia Definition

Critical thinking involves determining the meaning and significance of what is observed or expressed, or, concerning a given inference or argument, determining whether there is adequate justification to accept the conclusion as true (Wikipedia, 2010).

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

• Behavior Analysts are critical thinkers by nature.

• Professionals who aren’t in our field may have mixed feelings on our emphasis on data.

It is possible to come across as cynics when given a situation where there’s a “warm and fuzzy” story, but no evidence to support it.

Critical Thinking FailCritical Thinking Fail

“My son began aromatherapy treatment on Tuesday and started reading words on Wednesday!”

=

ScienceScience• Scientists need certain information before making

decisions

• Experimental control

• Observational Reliability

• Social Validity

Applied Behavior AnalysisApplied Behavior Analysis

• No other treatment comes close to the rigor of ABA

We are more concerned with causal variables surrounding human behavior

General correlational findings hold no weight

– “Girls are better at math” – according to what study?

Replicating ResearchReplicating Research

• We believe in a treatment after a certain number of replications have been made.

• Even after a study has been published that doesn’t mean its applicable to every learner.

What do we do to establish a functional relationship?– Take baseline, test the intervention– Determine if it works for a learner in that setting

Sometimes we try to replicate a published study and it doesn’t work with our learner.

This is why we take baseline and collect ongoing data.

Casual Versus Critical ThinkingCasual Versus Critical Thinking

• Most of our day to day thinking is not critical thinking, but casual thinking, or problem solving.

• What should I eat for breakfast?

• What should I wear?

• Sometimes it’s better to use casual thinking, especially when interacting with others.

Too much critical thinking may reduce the number of close friends you have.

– If someone tells you to try a new pizza place and you ask for data, they may be less likely to tell you about new eateries in the future

There are certain times where critical thinking is essential and can prevent wasted time and/or money.

Critical Thinking in ActionCritical Thinking in Action

• The ABA version of critical thinking comes from single-subject experimental methods.

• We have over four decades of research to rely on– This may explain why we are so skeptical about pseudo

science, fad treatments, etc.

There is a very large amount of new theories that have not been tested.

– Especially for autism – Chelation therapy, gluten/casein-free diet, etc.

Fad treatmentsFad treatments

Sensory Integration TherapySensory Integration Therapy

• What types of things are done in SIT?

• brushing

• deep pressure hugs

• massages

• rolling on a mat

Sensory Integration TherapySensory Integration Therapy

What is it supposed to do?

– Enhance the individual's ability to focus

How can we measure this?

– ???

Arguments for SITArguments for SIT

Casual – Why not?

– It’s been around for a while and I know a lot of OT’s that use it.

– Parents are happy with it

– The learner “enjoys” it

CriticalWhere are the data supporting the treatment?

Critical vs. CasualCritical vs. Casual

Using SIT or any other treatment without any evidence to support its effectiveness with a client isn’t critical thinking (Refer to Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts).

– This can lead to wasted time, money, etc.

These treatments are merely assuming that the procedure is effective and that the theory is correct.

– Research behind SIT and other fad treatments are not valid.

– A study done by Mason and Iwata (1990) actually showed an increase in self-injurious behavior when SIT was introduced.

What’s next?What’s next?

Facilitated CommunicationFacilitated Communication

Began in Australia as a treatment for individuals with cerebral palsy.

Came to USA in the early 1990s as a method for assisting communication for individuals with autism (Jackson, Foxx, & Mulick, 2005).

Supporters of FC:

– Believed individuals with autism have “undisclosed literacy” (Burch and Bailey, 2009)

– A “facilitator” can assist them in bringing out their latent literary talents.

QUESTIONQUESTION

Why do parents try fad treatments with no evidence?

What type of thinking are they engaging in?

– Critical or casual?

– What are possible repercussions of this?

ReviewReview

Why is it important to engage in critical thinking?

When is it ok to use casual thinking instead?

“ What skeptical thinking boils down to is the means to construct, and to understand, a reasoned argument-especially important-to recognize a fallacious or fraudulent argument.” - Carl Sagan

ReferencesReferences

Bailey, J. S., & Burch, M. R. (2010). Twenty-five essential skills & strategies for the professional behavior analyst. NY: Routledge.

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (2009). Critical Thinking. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Thinking