Med Educ January 2020 PMID 31468581

Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills.

Sandra Monteiro, Jonathan Sherbino, Matthew Sibbald, Geoff Norman

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Mentions

34
Peak: 11 in Sep 2019
across 2 sources since Aug 2019

Extended reach

108,737
potential audience

Total likes

46

Video views

45

Mentions per month

Aug 2019 – Jan 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter32 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions exhibit a tone of critical reflection, with many posters emphasizing the article's argument against the overreliance on teaching general thinking skills in medical education. Words like 'myth,' 'busting,' and 'crucial' articulate a belief that current practices are misguided, while statements such as 'progress is more likely via experiential knowledge' demonstrate endorsement of the paper's recommendations. The overall tone reveals a serious, almost reformist attitude that values empirical evidence and specific skills over abstract notions of universal cognitive abilities.

AgreementStrong agreement

Many posts strongly support the critique of the myth of generalizable skills, praising the emphasis on experiential knowledge and skepticism towards broad cognitive skills as invalid or misleading.

InterestHigh interest

Posts reflect high engagement with the topic, expressing curiosity about the implications for medical training and philosophical debates, with questions and calls for discussion.

EngagementModerate engagement

Although some posts are more supportive or declarative, others delve into specific criticisms and emphasize the importance of experiential learning, indicating genuine depth of engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

Several discussions highlight potential shifts in educational approaches, suggesting the article could influence future curriculum design or challenge existing paradigms, though some posts focus more on critique than immediate change.

Abstract in brief

  • The article discusses the persistent myth that generalizable thinking skills can be effectively taught and applied in medical education, warning against relying on curricular methods that focus solely on developing these skills.
  • It reviews the historical development of this idea through three periods—Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Counter-Enlightenment—highlighting how evidence from psychology and medical education has repeatedly challenged the notion that general reasoning skills are easily transferable across different contexts.
  • The paper concludes that true progress in medical training is better achieved by enhancing experiential knowledge and specific clinical skills, rather than investing heavily in teaching supposedly universal thinking abilities that lack strong empirical support.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Anthony R Artino Jr
@mededdoc · X

No, the goal of #HigherEd shldn't be 2 teach studs "general thinking skills" like critical thinking, prob solving, clinical reasoning & reflection b/c such general skills simply DON'T exist! I concur @monteiro_meded, @sherbino & @RealGeoffNorman! #MedEd https://t.co/egflZc2jav

Apr 16, 2020 · 14 likes · 4 shares · 5,263 followers View post →
McMaster Education Research, Innovation & Theory
@MERIT_McMaster · X

Congratulations

May 6, 2020 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 1,284 followers View post →
James Boyle
@drjamesboyle · X

Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from improving #experiential_knowledge than inculcating #general_skills like #critical_thinking @UofGMedicine @UK_CReME @ImproveDX #MedEd https://t.co/oNha413kSe https://t.co/iFomwcmg6Q

Sep 5, 2019 · 7 likes · 7 shares · 1,401 followers View post →
We're not on X anymore – formerly @NESKnowledge
@NESKnowledge · X

Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills https://t.co/20zeUUIdCe https://t.co/t8urf9nYCv

Sep 10, 2019 · 3 likes · 1 share · 6,001 followers View post →
Brian Locke, MD MSCI
@doc_BLocke · X

@pulmtoilet An alternative and more actionable framing (to anchoring) is two apparent knowledge errors: Misjudging the 1. base rate of conditions (sepsis most common cause of hypogly in crit. ill) 2. value of a key piece of data (nl stim excludes primary AI) see https://t.co/5dkGrYEd1L

Oct 31, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,408 followers View post →
Amir Safavi
@safaviaa · X

Apr 18, 2020 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 1,050 followers View post →

All mentions

Cory Rohlfsen
@CoryRohlfsen · X

Knowledge is

Nov 3, 2024 · 1 like · 1,202 followers View post →
Critical Concepts
@critconcepts · X

RT @doc_BLocke: @pulmtoilet An alternative and more actionable framing (to anchoring) is two apparent knowledge errors: Misjudging the 1.…

Oct 31, 2024 · 1 share · 14,723 followers View post →
Brian Locke, MD MSCI
@doc_BLocke · X

@pulmtoilet An alternative and more actionable framing (to anchoring) is two apparent knowledge errors: Misjudging the 1. base rate of conditions (sepsis most common cause of hypogly in crit. ill) 2. value of a key piece of data (nl stim excludes primary AI) see https://t.co/5dkGrYEd1L

Oct 31, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,408 followers View post →
Chris Kilmurray
@Point1_Athletic · X

Time and again - Critical thinking is polishing. The sculpting comes from the years dedicated to building expertise in a domain. Sculptor

Nov 17, 2023 · 890 followers View post →
Chris Kilmurray
@Point1_Athletic · X

Thought provoking read, in parts at least. Everything is specific, even the general? https://t.co/t74S7KpM9A

Dec 30, 2022 · 2 likes · 890 followers View post →
FathomlessAnima ☭ ⚕
@anyquestionsbot · X

@juliandc90 @endocrinorosero Si es un sesgo, el decir que no lo es no le da la razón, así de sencillo. https://t.co/6UxpF8AWFM

Dec 20, 2022 · 335 followers View post →
Maxime Gignon
@pr_gignon · X

Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills. https://t.co/RJoseTrTQF

Sep 29, 2022 · 5,225 followers View post →
Yusuf Yilmaz
@YusufYilmazPhD · X

RT @MERIT_McMaster: Congratulations

May 6, 2020 · 5 shares · 457 followers View post →
Teresa Chan | 陳敏怡
@TChanMD · X

RT @MERIT_McMaster: Congratulations

May 6, 2020 · 5 shares · 14,633 followers View post →
Jeffrey J. H. Cheung
@CheungJJH · X

RT @MERIT_McMaster: Congratulations

May 6, 2020 · 5 shares · 920 followers View post →
McMaster Education Research, Innovation & Theory
@MERIT_McMaster · X

Congratulations

May 6, 2020 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 1,284 followers View post →
MedEdBot
@MedEdBot · X

RT @safaviaa:

Apr 18, 2020 · 2 shares · 2,904 followers View post →
Amir Safavi
@safaviaa · X

Apr 18, 2020 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 1,050 followers View post →
Tjitske Faber
@fabertje · X

RT @mededdoc: No, the goal of #HigherEd shldn't be 2 teach studs "general thinking skills" like critical thinking, prob solving, clinical r…

Apr 18, 2020 · 4 shares · 128 followers View post →
Derek Louey
@dymonite69 · X

https://t.co/rKPV34xvu0 https://t.co/DPqnPUx6mO

Apr 17, 2020 · 746 followers View post →
Jonathan Sherbino
@sherbino · X

RT @mededdoc: No, the goal of #HigherEd shldn't be 2 teach studs "general thinking skills" like critical thinking, prob solving, clinical r…

Apr 17, 2020 · 4 shares · 7,804 followers View post →
Teresa Chan | 陳敏怡
@TChanMD · X

RT @mededdoc: No, the goal of #HigherEd shldn't be 2 teach studs "general thinking skills" like critical thinking, prob solving, clinical r…

Apr 16, 2020 · 4 shares · 14,633 followers View post →
Melchor Sanchez
@melchorsm · X

RT @mededdoc: No, the goal of #HigherEd shldn't be 2 teach studs "general thinking skills" like critical thinking, prob solving, clinical r…

Apr 16, 2020 · 4 shares · 883 followers View post →
Anthony R Artino Jr
@mededdoc · X

No, the goal of #HigherEd shldn't be 2 teach studs "general thinking skills" like critical thinking, prob solving, clinical reasoning & reflection b/c such general skills simply DON'T exist! I concur @monteiro_meded, @sherbino & @RealGeoffNorman! #MedEd https://t.co/egflZc2jav

Apr 16, 2020 · 14 likes · 4 shares · 5,263 followers View post →
Catrin Evans
@CatrinEvans15 · X

RT @NESKnowledge: Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills https://t.co/20zeUUIdCe https:/…

Sep 10, 2019 · 1 share · 696 followers View post →
We're not on X anymore – formerly @NESKnowledge
@NESKnowledge · X

Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills https://t.co/20zeUUIdCe https://t.co/t8urf9nYCv

Sep 10, 2019 · 3 likes · 1 share · 6,001 followers View post →
CReME
@UK_CReME · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 7, 2019 · 7 shares · 743 followers View post →
Dr Nick Mani, MSc FRCEM
@EveryOneNoOne1 · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 7, 2019 · 7 shares · 1,666 followers View post →
Jonathan Sherbino
@sherbino · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 6, 2019 · 7 shares · 7,804 followers View post →
Kristina Lisk
@KristinaLisk · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 5, 2019 · 7 shares · 246 followers View post →
Jeffrey J. H. Cheung
@CheungJJH · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 5, 2019 · 7 shares · 920 followers View post →
Karen Dickinson
@K_DickinsonMD · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 5, 2019 · 7 shares · 2,490 followers View post →
Paul A. Bergl
@PaulBerglMD · X

RT @drjamesboyle: Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from…

Sep 5, 2019 · 7 shares · 2,107 followers View post →
James Boyle
@drjamesboyle · X

Good read @MedEd_Journal @monteiro_meded @sherbino @realgeoffnormanet al. Progress in #MedEd is more likely to arise from improving #experiential_knowledge than inculcating #general_skills like #critical_thinking @UofGMedicine @UK_CReME @ImproveDX #MedEd https://t.co/oNha413kSe https://t.co/iFomwcmg6Q

Sep 5, 2019 · 7 likes · 7 shares · 1,401 followers View post →
Alan Gillies
@AlanGilliesNES · X

A 'myth-busting' review calling on medical education to focus on improving "the breadth and depth of experiential knowledge" rather than general critical thinking skills https://t.co/8l028eLteL

Sep 4, 2019 · 237 followers View post →
Tom
@kookyideas · X

Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills. https://t.co/7ovge93n3L

Aug 31, 2019 · 8,779 followers View post →
Critical Thinking
@critical01edge · X

Critical thinking, biases and dual processing: The enduring myth of generalisable skills https://t.co/lu5LDq1b4I

Aug 31, 2019 · 16 followers View post →