HLTA02H3- Lecture 1

What is Criticality
o A reference to higher-order cognitive skills used to critically appraise
arguments and evidence – analytical
o A particular orientation or approach to knowledge –action: example a
“critical social science perspective”—rooted in social theory

Egocentric Thought Sociocentric Thought

Fails to consider rights and needs
of others, the point of view of
others, or the limitations of our
own points of view
Failure to see the degree to which
we have uncritically internalized
dominant prejudices and
stereotypes or our society or
culture. A kind of group thinking
that encourages a “us vs. them”
mentality.

Example: It’s true because… Example: It’s true because…

-I believe it is true
-I want to believe it is true
-I have always believed it to be
true
-It is in my own interest to believe
it is true
-We believe it is true
-We want to believe it is true
-It is in our own interest to believe
it is true

Attributes of Critical Thinkers

o Interested in context, power, social relations and fairness even
when these ideas and dialogues are challenging or uncomfortable
o Problematize: ideas, evidence, conclusions, perspectives, origins
 o Committed to humility, fairness, collaboration, reflexivity
o Creative: open to thinking outside the box
o Knowledge-power nexus and epistemic communities: committed to
rigorous application of theory to practice
o Value & Purpose: social justice, solidarity, social transformation
Epistemic Communities
o A network of people with recognized expertise who possess a shared
set of principled beliefs, common practices, and a conviction that
human welfare will be enhanced as a consequence

Differences of Health Sciences vs. Health Studies

Health Sciences
A collection of disciplines that
support and constitute medicine:
1. Occupational Categories:
nursing, occupational therapy,
pharmacy
2. Medical Categories and ‘Basic
Sciences’: anesthesiology,
micro-biology, toxicology,
genetics, and immunology
3. Clinical Specialties: Geriatrics,
pediatrics, family practice,
critical care, and mental
health care
Health Studies
1. Multi-Dimensional: health,
illness medicine, and health
care have personal, collective,
cultural, social, political, and
economic consequences
2. Interdisciplinary: relies on
contributions of and
collaborations with all
disciplines, but primarily
informed by the social
sciences and humanities
3. Focus on Health & Wellbeing:
more than the mere absence
of disease or infirmity, broadly
determined, requires more than
access to medicine or health
care.
4. Relies on Quantitative &
Qualitative Research
5. A Diverse & Expanding Field

2
Question Posed by the Health Studies Epistemic Community:
o What constitutes health, illness, and care?
o What ideologies underpin health and social care systems?
o What health challenges do individuals and communities face?
o What historic conditions and emerging dynamics are shifting our
experience of health and illness?
Disciplinarity in Health Studies
Multidisciplinary Interdisciplinary Transdisciplinary

 Experts come  Experts come  A kind of epistemic

together to look at together to explore community
frailty in elderly changing definitions  Mixed methods
women; each focus of frailty  Work from a shared
on a different  Integrations of conceptual
aspect of the disciplinary framework derived
problem, from their perspectives; shared from a variety of
disciplinary research process, knowledge
perspective communication  Highly collaborative
 They share the among members  Insights are rich,
knowledge  Insights are rich, but transcend a single
produced not always rigorous discipline
 Insights are valuable (theory or methods)
but fragmented;
incomplete