11/14/2019
In the ever-evolving world of increasing automation, computers and artificial intelligence are taking over jobs that humans use to do. Self-driving cars and home assistant devices may be helpful, but humans are still necessary for their critical thinking skills that artificial intelligence cannot replace.
What is Critical Thinking?
Although it sounds like someone is being picky or judgmental, ‘critical’ refers to being perceptive. Basically, it is smarter thinking. It includes important skills such as reasoning, problem-solving, and analysis. This involves much more than black and white thinking. Interestingly, being creative helps lead to better critical thinking. If this does not sound like you, no worries. Everyone can improve their critical thinking skills with a bit of work.
How Does Critical Thinking Help?
Critical thinking can lead to better decisions. Reacting to a problem rather than trying to figure out what went wrong can lead to a great deal of frustration, lost time, and expense, and there is a risk it will happen again. Critically thinking about the problem can uncover the root cause(s) so that an effective corrective and preventive action plan (CAPA) can be created. The purpose of a CAPA is to find a solution, but to find the correct solution, the right root cause(s) needs to be discovered first. That is why critical thinking is essential.
What is the Problem?
One problem that occurs in clinical research is for the CAPA to be re-training. Some may reason that this is a good solution. If someone made a critical error, maybe they didn’t understand what they were supposed to do in the first place, so re-training seems like it might help. But is that what was happening? When someone speeds, is explaining the speed limit to the driver an effective solution to manage the problem? Or perhaps there was another reason? Then, why do we reach to re-training first, before we understand why the issue(s) occurred?
The Future of Critical Thinking
There are initiatives to improve critical thinking by combining artificial intelligence with humans to increase problem solving capacity. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Collective Intelligence Design Lab (CIDL) uses a multidisciplinary approach to assist the collective intelligence of an organization’s personnel to find innovative solutions to big problems. Imagine a future where computers assist clinical trials to improve critical thinking skills for personnel, which in turn could reduce costs and risks to subjects and increase efficiency and high-quality data.
You may also enjoy our related blogs:
Why is Critical Thinking the New Shortage?
Can You Dig Down to the Root Cause?
- The Clinical Pathways Team
Enjoy this blog? Please like, comment, and share with your contacts.