Methodological Thinking Drills: A Novel Technique for Boosting Real-World Methodological Thinking Ability

Abstract

Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of various psychological critical thinking interventions. The current study tests a novel technique for improving introductory psychology students’ ability to identify and evaluate methodological concepts in real-life media by prompting them to analyze secondary source news and blog articles. Participants randomly assigned to the experimental group completed three separate methodological thinking drills (MTDs), whereas control participants completed two reflection activities followed by a single MTD. Evidence for the effectiveness of the MTD intervention was found with respect to the within-group comparisons in the experimental condition and also the between-group comparison, indicating linear improvements in scores over time and across groups. These results suggest that methodological thinking can be taught and assessed simultaneously using a single, internally valid procedure.