Running Head: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN PSYCHOLOGY 1

MLO #3: Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology

Kayleigh Yaxley

California State University, Monterey Bay

Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology 2

MLO #3 Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology

Another major learning outcome that is expected from the students of California State

University, Monterey Bay is the ability to think critically and creatively. It actually states

“Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach.

Outcomes include using and engaging in critical thinking, using reasoning in arguments and

persuasion and approaching problems with sophistication.” (Psychology B.A. Degree

Requirement) These skills are not just taught in the classroom, but actual skills that can be put

into people’s everyday lives. It is about being able to think logically through situations to create

a better outcome. In psychology, critical thinking is used to bring about new ways based on

judgements. However, it is imperative to understand that everyone comes from different

backgrounds which influences people to have independent realities and perspectives of the

world. When mastered, this skill can be used to solve problems and try to diminish any negative

environments to generate healthier settings for individuals to grow and thrive in.

Any class nowadays incorporates activities to strengthen critical thinking skills. While

completing my associates degree at Citrus Community College, I took a lower division ​Research

Methods and Data Analysis.​ In this class we were given different studies where we had to

identify the parts of the experiment, such as what the independent and dependent variables were

and how many levels, what the research question and hypothesis is, what kind of psychological

test could be run based on the type of study, and other procedures. When advancing into upper

division ​Research Methods and Data Analysis​ at California State University, Monterey Bay, I

completed a similar assignment but it particularly focused on the infamous Stanford Prison
Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology 3

Experiment created by Professor Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues which was an experiment

on human obedience. (Pimple) The class was instructed to recognize and write down seven

things from the experiment, which was the independent variable, the dependent variable, any

confounding variables, the research question, the type of test for the study, sampling procedures,

and lastly the results of the study. Having to depict these trials showed me how much detail goes

into making sure nothing goes wrong in the study. As psychologists, we want to make sure while

we are practicing skeptical inquiry, we are keeping an open mind about the outcomes of the

concepts we are questioning.

Another class that prepared me for this major learning outcome of critical thinking skills

in psychology at CSUMB was Psychology 333, or ​Cognitive Neuroscience​. In this class, we did

several activities to exercise these skills. One assignment was during our chapter on memory.

The class was instructed to write a short paragraph on the question: How would you feel if you

experienced a traumatic event that resulted in memory loss? We were asked to put ourselves in

other people’s situations that have gone through this. I answered how I feel like I would be very

scared and would not really know who to trust if I could not remember anything. There was a

similar assignment during our chapter on parental styles influencing children’s behavior. We

were shown a short documentary on a study that focused on the shift of children’s behavior when

their mothers leave the room and they cannot visually see them anymore. We had to predict the

sort of parenting style we believed they displayed, based on observing their actions in a natural

state. I was able to take what I learned during my studies and apply it to a real life situation.

My ​Theories of Personality​ class, or Psychology 352, at California State University

Monterey Bay also assisted in strengthening my critical thinking skills. Every week we center
Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology 4

our attention on a different psychologist who helped shape the psychology perspective on

personality throughout individuals. After learning about their contributions to psychology and

their theories, we are always asked about our thoughts. We would answer questions such as

whether we agreed or disagreed with the psychologist’s perspectives of personality and why, and

that had to attempt to apply these theories into our own lives and experiences we have gone

through. This class continuously demanded me to think bigger than the surface level answers and

really increased my capability to be ready for the real world.

In short, learning how to critically think gives us an opportunity to create a broader

perspective of the world. The goal is to be able to examine situations and come up with all of the

different outcomes without implying one’s own opinion. With no bias being imputed, we can

find solutions and results with sophistication.

Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology 5

Works Cited

Pimple, K. D. (2008). ​Research Ethics​. Routledge.

Psychology B.A. Degree Requirement. (2008). Retrieved from

https://archive.csumb.edu/fall2008/x17696.html​.