Duration
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory : 10h Th
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice : 4h Pr
Survey methodology : 16h Th, 6h Pr
Number of credits
Lecturer
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory : Yaël Nazé
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice : Yaël Nazé
Survey methodology : Sébastien Fontaine
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
Course begins by an introduction to the scientific method, with its different sides. It continues with the analysis of the different ways we can be fooled (such as biases linked to the way the brain works or induced by the words and images used), and how to prevent them. It finishes by the definition of pseudodcience and the analysis of some cases.
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
Course: see DOCU-A for details. Part C concerns the practical side of this course, for students of the social sciences faculty.
Survey methodology
The theoretical course covers the steps of a quantitative survey. The main steps developed in this theoretical course are those concerning sampling techniques, the preparation of a questionnaire, the principles relating to the interpretation of results (elements of multivariate analysis).
The lectures will also delve into some of the cognitive mechanisms that underlie questions formulation techniques.
Exercise or question/answer sessions will be organized for the most technical parts of the course (sampling, writing questions, statistical interpretation of results). These sessions will sometimes be specific, sometimes adjoining the theoretical sessions.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
Aim is to initiate students to critical reasoning and to make them able to analyze things by themselves, in their daily life as well as in their professional life, to avoid biases and being fooled.
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
Aim is to initiate students to critical reasoning and to make them able to analyze things by themselves, in their daily life as well as in their professional life, to avoid biases and being fooled.
Survey methodology
The purpose of the course is double:
1 ° to give to the students the theoretical basic knowledge necessary for the realization of a quantitative survey, mainly in sampling of populations, realization of questionnaires, statistical treatment and interpretation of results.
2° To give the students the necessary tools in order to understant and interpret the surveys they could be confronted to : how to understand sampling error, how to understand various forms of figures and tables, how to assess the effect of the ways questions are asked and the potential biases they can induce, which conclusions may drawn form allowable evidence.
3° To position survey techniques in relation to other ways of gathering relevant information in social sciences.
This course is also pre-requisite for the "survey practice" course where students will carry out a survey themselves.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Survey methodology
If possible, knowledge of elementary notions of statistics and probability
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
The course will be in two parts, a theoretical one and a practical one. The first one is performed via a multimedia presentation, with many interactions (to avoid any misunderstandings). The second one consists in applying what was seen previously to actual cases. Moreover, training exercises are available on ecampus (for DOCU0455-A).
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
It consists in applying what was seen previously to actual cases. Moreover, training exercises are available on ecampus (for DOCU0455-A).
Survey methodology
Suggestion: To pass this course (like many others) you will have to: -1- be present. in lessons; -2- take notes (active listening) and -3- read the slides during the year.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
face-to-face (mandatory), 5 courses of 2h. The practical sessions depend on the students' faculty.
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
face-to-face (mandatory), 5 courses of 2h and at least one exercise session of 3h. The practical sessions consist in the critical analysis of texts and numbers. They require some preliminary work at home (details will be provided during the courses) and some reading of texts in French and English.
Survey methodology
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
The theoretical lessons will be given in lecture form and is illustrated by slides (ppt).
THE COURSE WILL NOT BE PODCASTED in order to preserve the dynamic aspect of the sessions and to encourage interactions.
Recommended or required readings
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
Notes and bibliography will be provided. All these documents are made available exclusively for a strictly personal and private use, and shall not be shared with a third party. If a student wants to record a lesson, he/she must ask for the teacher's authorization and sign the adequate copyright form (which also requires non-sharing).
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
Notes and bibliography will be provided. All these documents are made available exclusively for a strictly personal and private use, and shall not be shared with a third party. If a student wants to record a lesson, he/she must ask for the teacher's authorization and sign the adequate copyright form (which also requires non-sharing).
Survey methodology
A pedagogical frame is provided throuh detailed powerpoint. All technical elements of the course can be found there.The oral course is dedicated to explaining and exemplifying the content of powerpoint. To attend the course is very useful to understand the various slides.
STRUCTURE OF SLIDES
CH I General questions of validity
CH II The questionnaire and problems of bias
CH III Notions of sampling
CH IV Introduction to presentation and analysis of survey results.
Mainly used books are : see French version.
Consulting the various books is not at all compulsory but may help the student to understand better or to deepen the study of some particular points.
Assessment methods and criteria
The marks obtained for the different modules of METO1015 will be merged in a single grade out of 20, with Initiation to critical reasoning accounting for 40% and Survey methodology for 60%. The global grade is a weighted mean of the marks obtained in the two modules of the course, except if one of the two module marks is equal to or smaller than 8.00/20. In this case, it is that fail mark (of 8 or less) that will be used as global grade for the course METO1015. In the September (resit) session, the students have to resit only the modules for which they did not obtain marks equal to or greater than 10.00/20. They cannot resit module(s) they have already passed. Partial exemptions (based on pass grades of 10.00 or more in one or more modules) will be carried over from one academic year to the next.
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
Grading depends on the students's faculty - see practical part.
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Additional information:
The grade of the Initiation to critical reasoning part is composed of a written exam linked to the theory and competences acquired during the training sessions.
Survey methodology
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Additional information:
Written exam.
The written exam consists of open-ended questions, which is taken into account:
- the accuracy of the answer.
- the relevance: it is a question of answering precisely the question posed and not only of restoring the theory. Considerations that have nothing to do with the question generally lose points.
- the spirit of synthesis: to stick to what is useful for the answer, a maximum of 50 words per answer will be authorized.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
N/A
Survey methodology
Slides are not send all at once by one chapter after another.
Those slides are indeed regularly adapted to furnich examples better linked to socio-political news and evolutions.
Contacts
Introduction to critical thinking, Theory
Yaël Nazé, 04 366 97 20, office 2/12 in Bat B5C (Astrophysique et Géophysique), ynaze@uliege.be
Introduction to critical thinking, SHS practice
Yaël Nazé, 04 366 97 20, office 2/12 in Bat B5C (Astrophysique et Géophysique), ynaze@uliege.be
Survey methodology
Teacher : Sébastien FONTAINE Tél : 04/366 31 51 e-mail : Sebastien.Fontaine@ulg.ac.be