Developing Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Using the Legal Method
Item
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Title
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Developing Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Using the Legal Method
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Creator
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Miriam Gormley
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Degree Name
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Master of Arts in Teaching (initial licensure)
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Project Type
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Action Research Project
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Date
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6/15/2025
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Abstract
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This research project studied the impact of learning and practicing the analytic algorithm used by lawyers on students’ critical thinking skills. Lawyers evaluate legal problems using the IRAC analytic algorithm. IRAC stands for issue, rule, application, and conclusion. Students analyzed fact patterns and wrote a mock trial script to learn and practice using the IRAC algorithm. During this research project, the frequency with which students identified relevant evidence and used evidence-based reasoning correlated positively with their engagement in mock trial learning activities and assessments. As measured by pre- and post-multiple choice assessments of critical thinking skills, there was also a positive correlation between students receiving problem-based instruction on critical thinking and their understanding of principles of logic, causation, probability, and the sufficiency of evidence. As measured by pre- and post-self-assessments, modest shifts in students' attitudes toward considering alternative arguments and considering evidence that contradicted the students' claim was also noted.
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Keywords
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analytic thinking
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analytic algorithm
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problem-based
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Committee Member
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Rachel Harrington
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Marcus Wenzel
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Miriam Gormley
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Rights
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Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 06/20/2025, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
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https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
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Language
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eng
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Type
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Text
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Identifier
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MiriamGormley_ARP_2025
