UPIKE professor discusses need for critical thinking when facing a glut of information

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On Wednesday, September 9th, the Pikeville Rotary Club hosted Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jeffrey Tyler Sick, to discuss the vital role of critical thinking in an era saturated with information. Professor Sick emphasized that while access to data has never been easier, this abundance can paradoxically erode the necessity for individuals to form their own independent opinions. He defined critical thinking as the fundamental ability to navigate daily life by encountering situations, evaluating them objectively, and making informed decisions. According to him, this skill is not just an academic exercise but the very mechanism that allows society to function effectively, yet he noted with concern that these skills are declining across all age groups due to a reliance on passive consumption of information. To combat this decline, Professor Sick argued for the implementation of specific practices that actively strengthen analytical abilities rather than simply relying on instinct or quick digital answers. He suggested that reading deeply, engaging thoughtfully with viewpoints one disagrees with, and maintaining humility are essential steps toward improvement. At the University of Pikeville and the Center for Public Service he directs, these principles are woven into the curriculum through classes designed to force students to think rigorously, followed by real-world situations where they can apply these skills. He also highlighted a local Appalachian saying that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, urging people to resist the urge to blindly accept information just because it appears on a phone or in a news report without further verification. Furthermore, the professor advocated for a balanced approach to information gathering that combines modern technology with traditional methods like reading books and newspapers. While he acknowledged the utility of artificial intelligence and digital tools, he warned against defaulting to them exclusively, as they often encourage speed over depth. He encouraged individuals to "do their homework" by consulting a variety of reliable sources, including physical media, to slow down the decision-making process and allow for deeper reflection. By diversifying where one seeks information, people can avoid the trap of repeating unverified online content and instead develop the discipline required to evaluate claims critically before accepting them as truth. In conclusion, Professor Sick's message was a call to action for society to actively cultivate critical thinking skills rather than allowing them to atrophy in the face of easy access to data. He stressed that modern technology should be used wisely but not uncritically, reminding us that older methods of research still offer unique benefits by forcing us to engage more slowly and thoughtfully with complex issues. The ultimate goal is to empower individuals to make their own evaluations based on a broad range of evidence rather than relying solely on algorithms or headlines. As reported by Nick Collam for Mountain Top News, this approach ensures that citizens remain independent thinkers capable of navigating an increasingly complicated information landscape without falling prey to misinformation or superficial conclusions.

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On Wednesday, September 9th, Pikeville Rotary Club invited Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jeffrey Tyler Sick, to speak on the importance of critical thinking skills. While readily available information is now more accessible than ever before, it can diminish the necessity for one to form their own opinions. Sick tells us more about the major talking points he mentioned. >> Critical thinking is is basically the ability to make decisions in our lives every day. How do we encounter a situation, make an evaluation, and decide what to do? And the importance of this is I mean it's fundamental. This this is how we function as a basic society. >> [snorts] >> Um the skill is declining for a variety of reasons. It's been declining for decades among the young, among the old. And so the real way to shore up critical thinking is to institute practices that help us get better at it. Reading, thinking, encountering viewpoints we disagree with, and engaging with them, not just shutting them down. Countering role models, being humble, all these sorts of things. We incorporate this in our curriculum at the University of Pikeville, and at the Center for Public Service which I run, at most basic level by providing classes to students that force them to think in these ways. And then trying to give them situations in their lives where they can apply. >> Us hillbillies have a saying, if it's too good to be true, well, it probably is. At Appalachian [music] Wireless, we just tell it like it is, the Kentucky way. Local people with dependable service and no runaround. Keep it local, keep it connected. We are [music] Appalachian Wireless. >> Sick says people will often repeat what they hear or read online without putting in any effort to research a topic. While newer technologies can contribute to much, it can sometimes be best to turn to other mediums. >> I mean the most basic thing is do not just believe something cuz you've read it on your phone, or you've seen it on the news, or artificial intelligence told you that's the case. Try to gather information from a variety of sources, books, newspapers, news stations, social media, all these things. Try to gather them from reliable sources. Do your homework essentially, and then make an evaluation. That's the best way to practice critical thinking in our daily lives. Modern technology is great. We should use modern technology. Full stop, but we also should learn how to use a book, use a newspaper, all these more old-fashioned ways of making decisions, because they're still good ways to make a decision. And in some ways they force us to slow down and think a little bit more than these fast and easy things we sometimes default to. >> Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm Nick Collam.