Critical Thinking


  1. What is Bias?

    • Bias is when someone leans towards liking or not liking something or someone.

    • Bias can be good or bad, but it shapes how we think about things.

    • It can happen in three main ways:

    1. Only telling part of the story (not sharing everything).

    2. Choosing words that make things sound the way you want them to.

    3. Making people feel a certain way about something.

  2. How to Spot Bias

    • Ask these questions:

      • Did they leave out important facts?

      • Do I need to know more to understand better?

      • Did they use words that make you feel good or bad?

      • Would different words change how I feel about this?

  3. Signs of Bias

    • Look out for:

      • All-or-Nothing Statements: Words that don’t allow for any in-between.

      • Emotional Appeals: Trying to make you feel something instead of think clearly.

      • Oversimplification: Making difficult things sound too simple.

      • Personal Gain: Thinking about whether the person sharing info has something to gain.

      • No Other Views: Not showing different sides of the story.

  4. Understanding Wording Effect

    • The way we arrange or frame words shapes how we think and feel.

    • The way facts are presented can even change our emotions and actions.

  5. Example - How Words Matter in Shopping

    • Imagine two beef products that cost the same:

      • One says “80% lean”

      • The other says “20% fat”

    • Though they are the same, people might choose the “80% lean” because they think “fat” is bad.

  6. Critical Thinking

    • Think about why and how information is shared with us.

    • Ask if you're being led to believe one thing or if you have enough info to decide for yourself.

  7. Group Polarization

    • Group Polarization is when a group of people who already agree get even stronger in their opinions.

    • The more they talk, the more their opinions become extreme.

  8. Why People Follow Groups

    • Wanting to fit in makes people share stronger opinions when they see others agree.

    • This creates a cycle of everyone feeling validated.

  9. Examples of Group Polarization

    • Soft Drink Preference: If a group thinks Coke is better than Pepsi, their dislike for Pepsi gets stronger in conversation.

    • Restaurant Experience: If you think a meal is good, and your friend agrees it’s their favorite, you might now think it was the best meal ever.

  10. Effects on Society

    • Group Polarization can lead to negative and harmful behaviors as groups think more alike.

    • It can create an “us versus them” mindset and encourage prejudices.

  11. What is Groupthink?

    • Groupthink happens when everyone wants to get along so much that they don’t think clearly about decisions.

    • It stops people from sharing different opinions.

  12. Results of Groupthink

    • Members might ignore their own ideas to go along with the group.

    • They might believe the group is always right.

    • This can lead to bad choices and poor problem-solving.

  13. Example in Action

    • Choosing a restaurant to please everyone, even if you didn’t like it.

  14. Factors Leading to Groupthink

    • Overconfidence: Feeling like the group knows everything.

    • Conformity: Following what the bigger group thinks.

    • Self-Justification: Just saying you’d follow others to fit in.

    • Group Polarization Effect: Opinions become even stronger after talking with the group.

  15. Preventing Groupthink

    • In Organizations:

      • Leaders should welcome different opinions and ideas.

      • Invite experts for feedback.

      • Assign someone to think about potential problems.

      • Encourage people to speak out if they see something wrong.

    • For Individuals:

      • Keep an open mind.

      • Question existing beliefs.

      • Look at evidence carefully.

      • Embrace different perspectives.

      • Respectfully talk about conflicts.

      • Aim to help others and be a positive influence.

  16. What is Professional Integrity?

    • It's about being ethical and honest in a work setting to build trust and credibility.

  17. Key Parts of Integrity

    1. Honesty: Always tell the truth and admit mistakes.

    2. Accountability: Own up to your actions and make ethical choices.

    3. Respect: Be mindful of your own biases and treat others kindly.

    4. Fairness: Treat everyone fairly and promote a friendly environment.

    5. Trustworthiness: Share information honestly and keep your promises.

  18. Why Integrity Matters

    • It helps you build a good reputation.

    • Focuses on quality and best practices.

    • Ensures fair sharing of information.

  19. How to Stay Ethical

    • Set clear ethical guidelines.

    • Lead by example.

    • Be consistent with your principles.

    • Regularly check on and improve your ethical practices.