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Critical Thinking for TextileCritical Thinking for Textile
EngineersEngineers
Edrie Greer, Ph.D.
Learning, ETC., Inc.
Raleigh, NC

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ObjectivesObjectives
After participating in this presentation, students will be
able to:
 Define critical thinking
 Identify common mistakes made in reasoning
 Apply the standards of reasoning to textile
engineering concepts
 Apply the elements of reasoning to textile engineering
concepts
 Describe basic ethics underlying critical thinking
 Analyze their final project proposals using intellectual
standards

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What is Critical Thinking?What is Critical Thinking?
 Critical thinking is the use of rational skills,
worldviews, and values to get as close as possible to
the truth.
–The Skeptical Inquirer
 Critical thinkers examine the reasons for conclusions
 Stems from logical positivism in philosophy: scientific
rationalism
 Can be applied to virtually every
argument/debate/claim in private, public and
professional life
 Scientists and engineers need to evaluate the quality
of their products, processes and designs

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Common Reasoning MistakesCommon Reasoning Mistakes
 Mistake #1: We prefer stories to statistics.
 Mistake #2: We seek to confirm, not to question, our
ideas.
 Mistake #3: We rarely appreciate the role of chance
and coincidence in shaping events.
 Mistake #4: We sometimes misperceive the world
around us.
 Mistake #5: We tend to oversimplify our thinking.
 Mistake #6: Our memories are often inaccurate.
From Don't Believe Everything You Think: The 6 Basic Mistakes We Make in Thinking

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Standards of ReasoningStandards of Reasoning
 Clarity
 Accuracy
 Relevance
 Logicalness
 Breadth
 Precision
 Significance
 Completeness
 Fairness
 Depth
Adapted from The Thinker’s Guide to Engineering Reasoning

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Elements of ReasoningElements of Reasoning
 Purposes
 Questions
 Points of view
 Information
 Inferences
 Concepts
 Implications
 Assumptions
Adapted from The Thinker’s Guide to Engineering Reasoning

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 Imagine it’s Year 1965.
 Your colleague Stephanie Kwolek at Dupont
approaches you about a new discovery she’s
made: a new polymer that has the potential to
be a high-strength fiber.
 Your job as a textile engineer is to figure out
how to process this polymer into a fiber that
can be used for tire cord.
Developed by Melissa Pasquinelli and Russell E. Gorga
Case Study: Processing KevlarCase Study: Processing Kevlar
FibersFibers

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Elements of Reasoning
 Purpose: How do we process this new polymer into a
fibrous form that can be used for tire cord?
 Questions?
 Points of view?
 Information?
 Inferences?
 Concepts?
 Implications?
 Assumptions?
Developed by Melissa Pasquinelli and Russell E. Gorga
Case Study: Processing KevlarCase Study: Processing Kevlar
FibersFibers

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Ethics of Critical ThinkingEthics of Critical Thinking
 Avoid egocentrism
 Develop a questioning outlook: Devil’s
Advocacy
 Avoid groupthink
 Be fair
 Maintain integrity
 Consider long-term implications:
– Environmental
– Individual health, safety and well-being
– Fiscal responsibility

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Group Exercise: Final ProjectGroup Exercise: Final Project
Proposal (45 min.)Proposal (45 min.)
Use the standards, elements and ethics
of reasoning to analyze the quality of
your final project proposals
Based on this analysis, will you make
any changes?—state your reasons why
Use checklist in Engineering Reasoning
booklet—pp 14-15
Be prepared to summarize to class

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SummarySummary
Critical thinking and reasoning means…
Using certain standards as you think
Asking hard questions (elements)
continually
Considering the long term implications
Showing and being accountable for your
thought processes and work (i.e. “what
were you thinking?”)

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For More InformationFor More Information
The Thinker’s Guide to Engineering
Reasoning—Richard Paul, Robert
Niewoehner, Linda Elder
Don’t Believe Everything You Think—
Thomas Kida
Criticalthinking.org
www.philowiki.com/wiki/index.php/Crit
ical_Thinking_Debate_Guide