PH330: Decision Making

3 core areas that are central to being an accomplished thinker and living a successful, fulfilling life:

1. Establishing and achieving your goals 2. Becoming an intelligent and effective decision maker 3. Becoming a confident and productive creative thinker

6 categories of carefully exploring situations with questions

1. Fact 2. Interpretation 3. Analysis 4. Synthesis 5. Evaluation 6. Application

2 steps to achieve short-term goals

1. Identifying the appropriate goals 2. Devising effective plans and strategies to achieve your goals

2 important functions of goals

1. Organizing your thinking 2. Giving your life order and direction.

The structure of concepts involves 3 qualities:

1. Signs 2. Referents 3. Properties

4 productive strategies on becoming more creative:

1. Understand and trust the creative process. 2. Eliminate the "voice of criticism." 3. Establish a creative environment. 4. Make creativity a priority.

4 common thinking errors when seeking our goals

1. We neglect to explicitly identify important goals. 2. We concentrate on less important goals first, leaving insufficient time to work on more important goals. 3. We do not identify all of the steps required to achieve our goals, or we approach them in the wrong order. 4. We underestimate the time each step will take and/or fail to plan the steps in our schedule.

Analogy

A comparison between things that are basically dissimilar, for the purpose of illuminating an understanding of the things being compared.

Empirical generalization

A form of inductive reasoning in which a general statement is made about an entire group (the "target population") based on observing some members of the group (the "sample population")

Socratic Method

A method of inquiry that uses dynamic approach of questioning and intellectual analysis to explore the essential nature of concepts.

Thinking

A purposeful, organized cognitive process used to understand the world and make informed decisions.

Language

A system of symbols for thinking and communicating.

Vague word

A word that lack a clear and distinct meaning.

Perceiving

Actively selecting, organizing, and interpreting what is experienced by the senses

Definition of "judgements"

Based on certain criteria through facts and inferences

We construct knowledge based on our:

Beliefs

Definition of "beliefs"

Beliefs are interpretations, evaluations, conclusions, and predictions about the world that we endorse as true.

How do we apply concepts?

By interpreting.

Thinking critically involves:

Carefully exploring the thinking process to clarify our understanding and make more intelligent decisions.

In the same way that words are the vocabulary of language:

Concepts are the vocabulary of thought.

Syntactic Meaning

Defines its relation to other words in a sentence.

Syntactic meaning

Defines its relation to other words in a sentence.

Euphemism

Derives from a Greek word meaning "to speak with good words" and involves substituting a more pleasant, less objectionable way of saying something for a blunt or more direct way.

Inferring

Describing the world in ways that are based on factual information yet going beyond this information to make statements about what is not currently known.

Reporting factual information

Describing the world in ways that can be verified through investigation.

Judging

Describing the world in ways that express an evaluation based on certain criteria.

Referents

Examples of the concept Example: Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Jetta, etc.

In step 5 of the Method for Making decisions, the author says to implement a plan of action, monitor the results and stick to the plan to the end. True or False

False

A vague word is a word that has a clear and distinct meaning. True or False.

False.

Discussing ideas in an organized way include interrupting when you are aware there are fallacies in an argument. True or False.

False.

Emotive language is not expressive nor effective. True or False.

False.

Knowledge comprises beliefs about the world that we do not believe are true. True or False.

False.

Language is defined as a system of non-verbal communication for thinking and communicating. True or False.

False.

Definition of "judging"

Forming an opinion based on facts and inferences

Concepts

General ideas that are used to identify and organize experience.

What are concepts?

General ideas used to identify and organize experience; in so doing, they bring order and intelligibility to our lives.

Definition of "inferences"

Going beyond factual information and inferring

Beliefs

Interpretations, evaluations, conclusions, or predictions about the world that we endorse as true.

Pragmatic Meaning

Involves the person who is speaking and the situation in which the word is spoken.

Pragmatic meaning

Involves the person who is speaking and the situation in which the word is spoken.

Definition of "knowledge"

Knowledge comprises beliefs about the world that we believe are true and for which we can supply compelling reasons and evidence.

What does it mean to live an examined life?

Living an examined life means painting your life portrait with reflective understanding and informed choices.

Can I be creative?

Living your life creatively means bringing your unique perspective and creative talents to all of the dimensions of your life.

Emotive language

Often plays a double role- it not only symbolizes and expresses our feelings but also arouses or evokes feelings in others.

As a critical thinker, you must:

Pay attention to the ways in which images can inspire, support, and reflect your beliefs and your goals.

We construct beliefs based on our:

Perceptions

Properties

Qualities that all examples of the concept share in common Example: wheels, engine, seats for passengers

What are the 3 types of beliefs?

Reports, Inferences, and Judgments

Definition of "reports"

Reports: Describe the world in a way it can be verified

We view the world through our own unique "lenses," which do what?

Shape and influence our perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge.

Who said, "The unexamined life is not worth living"?

Socrates

What are the 3 stages of knowing?

Stage 1: The Garden of Eden Stage 2: Anything Goes Stage 3: Thinking Critically

Steps to solving complex problems

Step 1: What Is the Problem? Step 2: What Are the Alternatives? Step 3: What Are the Advantages and/or Disadvantages of Each Alternative? Step 4: What Is the Solution? Step 5: How Well Is the Solution Working?

What is the most important step to solving complex problems?

Step 3: What Are the Advantages and/or Disadvantages of Each Alternative?

How has the "prescription" of our lens been formed?

The "prescription" of our lenses has been formed by our experiences and our reflection on those experiences.

Thinking critically

The cognitive process used to carefully explore one's thinking (and the thinking of others) to clarify and improve one's understanding and to make more intelligent decisions.

What is classifying?

The process by which you group things based on their similarities.

Semantic Meaning (Denotation)

The semantic meaning of a word expresses the relationship between a linguistic event (speaking or writing) and a nonlinguistic event (an object, idea, or feeling).

Perceptual Meaning (Connotation)

The total meaning of a word also includes its perceptual meaning, which expresses the relationship between a linguistic event and an individual's consciousness.

Perceptual meaning (connotation)

The total meaning of a word also includes its perceptual meaning, which expresses the relationship between a linguistic event and an individual's consciousness.

How do we form concepts?

Throughout our lives we engage in the processes of forming and applying concepts through the interactive processes of generalizing and interpreting.

Interpreting

To explain the meaning of; to conceive whether of, construe; to look for different examples of a concept in order to determine if they meet the requirements of that concept.

Generalizing

To focus on the common properties shared by a group of things.

Becoming a sophisticated critical thinker is a lifelong process that requires ongoing analysis, reflection, and practice. True or False

True

Becoming a sophisticated critical thinker is a lifelong process. True or False.

True

Language is always used in a context. True or False

True

The semantic meaning of a word expresses the relationship between a linguistic event and a non-linguistic event. True or False.

True

We can become more effective problem solvers by approaching complex problems in an organized way. True or False

True

Beliefs are interpretations, evaluations, conclusions, and predictions about the world that we endorse as true. True or False.

True.

Euphemism derives from a Greek word meaning "to speak with good words". True or False.

True.

Sign is a word-symbol that names the concept. True or False.

True.

We can become more effective problem solvers by approaching complex problems in an organized way. True or False.

True.

We can become more effective problem-solvers by approaching complex problems in an organized way. True or False.

True.

We construct our world by actively selecting, organizing, and interpreting our sensations. True or False.

True.

We construct our world by selecting, organizing, and interpreting our sensations. True or False.

True.

We define concepts by describing the necessary properties/requirements. True or False.

True.

Thinking creatively

Using the thinking process to develop ideas that are unique, useful, and worthy of elaboration.

What Factors Shape Perceptions?

We construct our world by actively selecting, organizing, and interpreting our sensations.

Sign

Word-symbol that names the concept. Example: Automobile

Step 1 of the Method for Making Decisions is: a. Define the decision clearly. b. Consider all possible choices. c. Throw your papers in the air with gusto. d. Gather information and evaluate the pros and cons of each choice.

a. Define the decision clearly.

The prescription of our "lenses" have been formed by what? a. Our experiences and our reflection on those experiences. b. Our choices. c. Our ability to communicate with the people around us. d. Our decisions and the decision of those who influence us.

a. Our experiences and our reflection on those experiences.

Which of the following questions should you ask when analyzing an issue? a. What is the evidence? b. What year did this issue begin? c. Do I even care?

a. What is the evidence?

Types of beliefs include which of the following? a. reports, inferences, and judgements. b. beliefs, views, and opinions. c. judgements, beliefs, and assumptions. d. beliefs, reasoning, and assumptions.

a. reports, inferences, and judgements.

What is the process by which you group things based on their similarities known as? a. Grouping b. Classifying c. Placing d. Organizing

b. Classifying

For much of the 20th century, Rollo May writes, scientists perceived which of the following? a. Creativity as scientific. b. Creativity as insanity. c. Creativity as unscientific. d. Creativity as intelligent.

c. Creativity as unscientific.

When the mind exercises its creative muscle, it also generates a sense of which of the following? a. Remorse b. Gratitude c. Pleasure d. Sensitivity

c. Pleasure

What is perceptual meaning (connotation)? a. Looking to decide if examples meet the requirements of the concept. b. Comparison between basically dissimilar things. c. The total meaning of a word also includes its perceptual meaning. d. Involves the person who is speaking.

c. The total meaning of a word also includes its perceptual meaning.

We view the world through our own "lenses", which shape and influence which of the following? a. our views, arguments, and communication. b. our beliefs, viewpoints, and assumptions. c. our perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge. d. our communication skills and beliefs.

c. our perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge.

Language styles include which of the following? a. non-verbal and verbal communication. b. symbols and signs. c. slang and jargon. d. all of the above.

c. slang and jargon.

Three core areas central to an accomplished thinker, living a fulfilling life include which of the following? a. Being an active listener. b. Becoming an intelligent and effective decision maker. c. Becoming a confident and productive creative thinker. d. All of the above.

d. All of the above.

Which of the following are included in constructing our beliefs? Choose the best answer. a. interpretations b. evaluations c. conclusions d. all of the above

d. all of the above

Creative thinking teaches us that there are many different ways of which of the following? a. of experiencing and balancing. b. of communicating thorugh non-verbal language. c. of experiencing life. d. of experiencing and communicating information.

d. of experiencing and communicating information.

Semantic meaning (denotation)

expresses the relationship between a linguistic event (speaking or writing) and a nonlinguistic event (an object, idea, or feeling).

Achieving long-term goals

· Apply some of the insights we have been examining with regard to working toward goals to a situation in your own life. · Describe as specifically as possible an important longer-term goal that you want to achieve. Your goal can be academic, professional, or personal. · Explain the reasons that led you to select the goal that you did and why you believe that your goal makes sense. · Identify both the major and minor steps you will have to take to achieve your goal. List your steps in the order in which they need to be taken and indicate how much time you think each step will take. Make your responses as specific and precise as possible. · Identify some of the sacrifices that you may have to make in the present in order to achieve your future goal.

Discussing Ideas in an Organized Way

· Listening Carefully · Supporting Views with Reasons and Evidence · Responding to the Points Being Made · Asking Questions · Increasing Understanding

3 language styles

· Standard American English · Slang · Jargon

5 step method for decision making

· Step #1 Define the decision clearly. · Step #2 Consider all the possible choices. · Step #3 Gather all relevant information and evaluate the pros and cons of each possible choice. · Step #4 Select the choice that seems to best meet the needs of the situation. · Step #5 Implement a plan of action and then monitor the results, making necessary adjustments.

Becoming a critical thinker involves:

· Thinking actively · Exploring situations with questions · Thinking independently · Viewing situations from different perspectives · Supporting perspectives with reasons and evidence · Discussing ideas in an organized way · Analyzing issues thoughtfully

4 questions for analyzing issues

· What Is the Issue? · What Is the Evidence? · What Are the Arguments? · What Is the Verdict?