Reasons for non-critical thinking: The multilevel model approach

Gyongyi Fabian

doi:10.18844/prosoc.v5i3.3912

Abstract

In current literature, one is offered a number of ways of discussing critical thinking, and furthermore, authors follow different tracks grounded in a variety of disciplines (philosophical, psychological and educational) to approach the concept. The only consensus within this topic seems to be the claim that there is no consensus concerning the definition and the construct of critical thinking. I propose that the critical thinking is a complex concept, which simultaneously involves components at three levels, at the level of the culture, the individual and the language. I call the resulting framework a multilevel model (MLM) of the critical thinking concept. The paper argues that the study of critical thinking and non-critical thinking instances within the framework of the MLM allows us a better understanding of the phenomena internationally, and in addition, that no one level can be singled out as the only appropriate level of analysis of critical thinking instances.  Keywords: Critical thinking, language, emotion, context, social environment, culture.

Highlights

The multilevel model (MLM) of critical thinking (Fabian, 2017) was formulated with the intention to refine the current framework of understanding critical thinking in education, and is based on the following interpretation of the concept (Fabian, 2014)
Kumaravadivelu (2003) claims that classroom behaviors of L2 learners are the result of a complex interface between several social, cultural, economic, educational, institutional, and individual factors
It is almost impossible to control a multitude of variables in order to isolate culture as the sole variable that can be empirically studied to determine its impact on classroom behavior

Summary

Introduction

The multilevel model (MLM) of critical thinking (Fabian, 2017) was formulated with the intention to refine the current framework of understanding critical thinking in education, and is based on the following interpretation of the concept (Fabian, 2014). Critical thinking in education is a way of learning It is activated by one’s internal initiative to develop one’s understanding of reality through revealing further objective information, with the aim to construct new and solid knowledge for oneself.a. Through the application of the MLM professionals will become capable of providing a valid interpretation of the students’ critical thinking processes, or of the lack of that. I will first present a brief overview of the current approaches to the critical thinking concept to move on to provide some evidence of further influencing factors to exist. These factors might provide good reasons for the individual to avoid thinking critically, are currently rather underestimated. We will learn what these factors are, and the reason why they deserve a place in the extended concept of critical thinking, which we will name MLM of the concept

A brief overview of critical thinking concept

The extension of the critical thinking concept

Conclusion