Critical Thinking
Critical thinking defined by the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, is the “intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information fathered form, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action” (The Critical Thinking Community, 1987).
The ability to analyze, think critically and rationally is all assumed to be an objective process. However, to truly understand the process and ability to think critically, one must examine their biases, subjective judgments, and be aware of assumptions to truly examine the issue at hand. While critical analysis encourages judgment and evaluation at a basic level, it also brings the skills of examination and questioning. I strongly believe with this definition of critical thinking, as Human Services has provided an entire process of analyzing, observing, and reflection. Through these activities my intellectual abilities have developed and after time of reflection and observation, I feel an altruistic change of belief to promote action based on a foundation of theoretical and systematic concepts. The analysis of theories and difficult discussions are a precursor to knowing how to take action on a foundation of analysis and beliefs.
During my time in the Human Services program, I have been able to examine familiar nationwide issues. My viewpoint has changed in the process by learning how to critically think, question, and expand my understanding of preconceived ideas and bias concepts. In my first quarter in the program I took HSP 301 Human Services Professionals and Interpersonal Systems and through the process of writing a Standpoint Essay, I was able to acknowledge and recognize where my bias comes into the process of evaluating issues. In this essay, we were required to pick one standpoint on an issues and I discussed my view of being against the death penalty. Through discussion of systems of poverty, mental illness, and how my own experience has formed my opinion against it, I also learned a different perspective from my peer and learned the complexity of how their viewpoint was formed. To truly understand this viewpoint, I had to critically analyze the systems we were living in, and how certain concepts applied to different standpoints.
In HSP 455 Diversity and Social Justice, through topics of social justice, intersectionality, and the examination of the meaning of equity by looking at our oppressive society, I was able to apply a critical lens in how to approach these topics through social justice essays. Colonization shaped the construct of privilege and oppression, which created our patriarchy of systems. Before I was able to understand these social justice concepts and the history of oppression, I had to change the way I viewed and questioned the systems. Through critical inquiry, I was able to discuss difficult topics and better find why our systems have been problematic and exclusive. I also constructed a social justice plan, to implement this knowledge into an action base.
HSP 385 Research Methods was a challenging class for me, as I went from reflecting and analyzing to researching and using an academic voice through examining research and statistics. While the research process created a new form of critical thinking, it established an element of analysis and questioning through research. Through this, I was able to establish a more theoretical and researched framework that did not particularly come from one perspective but an objective study. In my research paper, Citizen’s Awareness of the Causes of Mental Illness, I discussed different environmental, genetic factors, and abuse factors that determine one’s mental health situation and their involvement with the criminal justice system. Through the research process, it was essential to consider the limitations of the study and consider all of the possibilities. Through critical analysis, I was able to question what had been left out including the awareness and knowledge of society’s perceptions of mental illness.
In this entire process, although my intellect slowly developed and transformed on these new concepts, I am more confident with my ability to critically think about future subjects that arise. The process of critical analysis and logical thinking can help within academics and in the professional world to having a better understanding of how to deal with our future transforming issues. Critical thinking can also expand discussions, leadership skills, and problem solving skills when working with others on complicated and difficult topics.
I hope to use these skills in my future career as a professional as I have also applied the CSHSE standards within my education. According to the Human Services standards, the evidence of my own critical thinking intellectual standards, all relate to clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, and logic (Paul & Elder). I have met critical thinking CSHSE standard 19, “…shall incorporate human services values and attitudes and promote understanding of human services ethics and their application in practice,” standard 20, “develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations,” and “provided knowledge theory, and skills” through standard 18.
References
CSHSE - Council for Standards in Human Service Education. (2010). Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://www.cshse.org/standards.html
Defining Critical Thinking. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766
The ability to analyze, think critically and rationally is all assumed to be an objective process. However, to truly understand the process and ability to think critically, one must examine their biases, subjective judgments, and be aware of assumptions to truly examine the issue at hand. While critical analysis encourages judgment and evaluation at a basic level, it also brings the skills of examination and questioning. I strongly believe with this definition of critical thinking, as Human Services has provided an entire process of analyzing, observing, and reflection. Through these activities my intellectual abilities have developed and after time of reflection and observation, I feel an altruistic change of belief to promote action based on a foundation of theoretical and systematic concepts. The analysis of theories and difficult discussions are a precursor to knowing how to take action on a foundation of analysis and beliefs.
During my time in the Human Services program, I have been able to examine familiar nationwide issues. My viewpoint has changed in the process by learning how to critically think, question, and expand my understanding of preconceived ideas and bias concepts. In my first quarter in the program I took HSP 301 Human Services Professionals and Interpersonal Systems and through the process of writing a Standpoint Essay, I was able to acknowledge and recognize where my bias comes into the process of evaluating issues. In this essay, we were required to pick one standpoint on an issues and I discussed my view of being against the death penalty. Through discussion of systems of poverty, mental illness, and how my own experience has formed my opinion against it, I also learned a different perspective from my peer and learned the complexity of how their viewpoint was formed. To truly understand this viewpoint, I had to critically analyze the systems we were living in, and how certain concepts applied to different standpoints.
In HSP 455 Diversity and Social Justice, through topics of social justice, intersectionality, and the examination of the meaning of equity by looking at our oppressive society, I was able to apply a critical lens in how to approach these topics through social justice essays. Colonization shaped the construct of privilege and oppression, which created our patriarchy of systems. Before I was able to understand these social justice concepts and the history of oppression, I had to change the way I viewed and questioned the systems. Through critical inquiry, I was able to discuss difficult topics and better find why our systems have been problematic and exclusive. I also constructed a social justice plan, to implement this knowledge into an action base.
HSP 385 Research Methods was a challenging class for me, as I went from reflecting and analyzing to researching and using an academic voice through examining research and statistics. While the research process created a new form of critical thinking, it established an element of analysis and questioning through research. Through this, I was able to establish a more theoretical and researched framework that did not particularly come from one perspective but an objective study. In my research paper, Citizen’s Awareness of the Causes of Mental Illness, I discussed different environmental, genetic factors, and abuse factors that determine one’s mental health situation and their involvement with the criminal justice system. Through the research process, it was essential to consider the limitations of the study and consider all of the possibilities. Through critical analysis, I was able to question what had been left out including the awareness and knowledge of society’s perceptions of mental illness.
In this entire process, although my intellect slowly developed and transformed on these new concepts, I am more confident with my ability to critically think about future subjects that arise. The process of critical analysis and logical thinking can help within academics and in the professional world to having a better understanding of how to deal with our future transforming issues. Critical thinking can also expand discussions, leadership skills, and problem solving skills when working with others on complicated and difficult topics.
I hope to use these skills in my future career as a professional as I have also applied the CSHSE standards within my education. According to the Human Services standards, the evidence of my own critical thinking intellectual standards, all relate to clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, and logic (Paul & Elder). I have met critical thinking CSHSE standard 19, “…shall incorporate human services values and attitudes and promote understanding of human services ethics and their application in practice,” standard 20, “develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations,” and “provided knowledge theory, and skills” through standard 18.
References
CSHSE - Council for Standards in Human Service Education. (2010). Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://www.cshse.org/standards.html
Defining Critical Thinking. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766