Questioning the Status of Disciplines
A framework for critically evaluating knowledge and expert claims within any academic discipline and its textbooks by asking probing questions about competing schools, biases, vested interests, and the nature of certainty.
THE IDEA
Questioning the Status of Disciplines
When studying any discipline, it is important to determine the strengths and weaknesses in it. To do this you must question the status of knowledge and “expert” information in the field, rather than blindly accepting what you read and are told about the discipline. Of course, you must do this through disciplined and responsible thinking, being alert to both strengths and weaknesses. Some critical questions to ask about a field of study are:
- To what extent do competing schools of thought exist within this field?
- To what extent do experts in this field disagree about the answers they give to important questions?
- What other fields deal with this same subject, from a different standpoint perhaps? To what extent do conflicting views exist about this subject in light of these different standpoints?
- To what extent, if at all, is this field properly called a science?
- To what extent can questions asked in the field be answered definitively? To what extent are questions in this field matters of (arguable) judgment?
- To what extent does public pressure influence professionals in the field to compromise their professional practice in light of public prejudice or vested interest?
- To what extent is it likely that professionals within the discipline will act in accordance with their vested or selfish interest, rather than in a fair-minded way? What types of “opportunities” exist for professionals within the field to serve their own interest in lieu of serving those they purport to serve?
- What does the history of the discipline tell us about the status of knowledge in the field?
- How old is the field? How common is controversy over fundamental terms, theories, and orientation?
- How wide is the likely gap between the promised ideal of instruction in the discipline and the actual results?
Some Critical Questions to Ask About a Textbook:
- If there are competing schools of thought within this field, what is the orientation of the textbook writers? Do they highlight these competing schools and detail the implications of that debate?
- Are other textbooks available that approach this field from a significantly different standpoint? If so, how should we understand the orientation or bias of this textbook?
- Would other experts in this field disagree with any of the answers to important questions given in this textbook? How would they disagree?
- Are there textbooks in other fields dealing with this same subject, from a different standpoint perhaps? To what extent do conflicting views exist about this subject in the light of these different standpoints?
- To what extent does this textbook represent this field as a science? If so, do some experts in the field disagree with this representation? In what sense is it not a science?
- To what extent do the questions asked in this textbook lead to definitive answers? Conversely, to what extent are questions in this textbook matters of (arguable) judgment? And does the textbook help you distinguish between these very different types of questions?
When to use it
Evaluating the reliability of textbooks before choosing them for a course.
Critically analyzing research papers for undisclosed biases or conflicts of interest.
Preparing a literature review that fairly represents competing theories.
Making informed decisions about which expert advice to trust in policy-making.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Evaluating a Psychology Textbook
When evaluating a psychology textbook, check how it handles replication problems, uncertainty and competing explanations. Does it distinguish well-supported findings from disputed results, and explain what evidence could resolve a disagreement?
Questioning Economic Policy Claims
When reading an economics article claiming that tax cuts always stimulate growth, use the questions to probe: Do experts agree? What are competing schools (Keynesian vs. supply-side)? Are vested interests distorting the advice?
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Think of a subject you studied recently. What competing schools of thought exist in that field, and how were they presented?
Identify a textbook you used. Does it fairly represent alternative viewpoints or does it push a particular agenda?
How might public pressure or vested interests shape the knowledge produced in a discipline like nutrition science or political science?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- The Art of Asking Essential Questions Based on Critical Thinking Concepts and Socratic Principles (Linda Elder, Richard Paul)