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How We Think by John Dewey - Quiz
Contributed by: Lindsay
  • 1. In 'How We Think', John Dewey articulates a comprehensive framework for understanding the thinking process, emphasizing the importance of reflective thought in education and life. Dewey presents thinking as an active, dynamic process rather than a passive reception of information, encouraging individuals to engage critically with their experiences and to analyze their thought patterns. He delineates between 'inference' and 'deduction', arguing that true thinking arises when individuals encounter problems that require exploration and reasoning, leading to informed conclusions. Moreover, Dewey stresses that effective thinking is inherently social and contextual, shaped by interactions with others and the environment. He advocates for educational practices that nurture critical thinking habits, fostering a generation capable of independent thought and innovation. This work has lasting implications for pedagogy and the understanding of cognitive processes, underscoring the necessity of an experiential learning approach that values inquiry and practical engagement over rote memorization.

    Dewey argues that the ultimate goal of education should be to teach what?
A) Memorization of facts
B) Technical vocational skills
C) How to think
D) What to think
  • 2. What does Dewey identify as the origin of thought?
A) Divine inspiration
B) Rote memorization
C) Genetic predisposition
D) A problematic situation
  • 3. What does Dewey contrast with reflective thought?
A) Mathematical calculation
B) Routine action
C) Emotional response
D) Physical exercise
  • 4. According to Dewey, what is a 'warranted assertion'?
A) An opinion stated loudly
B) A belief justified by inquiry
C) A legally binding statement
D) A guess made with confidence
  • 5. What role does 'data' play in Dewey's reflective thinking?
A) It is an unnecessary distraction
B) It is the final conclusion
C) It provides the facts for the problem
D) It is only used in science
  • 6. Dewey believed that ideas should be considered as what?
A) Abstract truths
B) Fixed entities
C) Poetic expressions
D) Plans of action
  • 7. What is the final step in Dewey's pattern of reflective thought?
A) Forgetting the initial problem
B) Testing the hypothesis by action
C) Celebrating the conclusion
D) Publishing the results
  • 8. For Dewey, what is the relationship between thinking and experience?
A) They are completely separate
B) Thinking creates experience
C) Experience corrupts thinking
D) Thinking arises from experience
  • 9. What does Dewey mean by 'the inductive movement'?
A) Reasoning from specific facts to a general idea
B) A political ideology
C) The movement of tectonic plates
D) A physical exercise routine
  • 10. According to Dewey, what is a key characteristic of a good thinker?
A) A large vocabulary
B) Stubbornness
C) Open-mindedness
D) Speed of thought
  • 11. What is the 'double movement of reflection'?
A) Reading and then writing
B) Asking and then answering
C) Inductive and deductive reasoning
D) Thinking and then sleeping
  • 12. Dewey argues that the scientific method is what?
A) The perfected form of thinking
B) Only for use in laboratories
C) Too complex for everyday use
D) An outdated mode of inquiry
  • 13. What is a 'prejudice' in Dewey's analysis?
A) A synonym for preference
B) A legal term for bias in court
C) A type of scientific instrument
D) A judgment formed before evidence is examined
  • 14. For Dewey, what is the value of a hypothesis?
A) It directs observation and experimentation
B) It is only useful in fiction
C) It is the final answer to a problem
D) It is a wild guess with little value
  • 15. What does Dewey identify as a major obstacle to good thinking?
A) Over-reliance on technology
B) Lack of access to libraries
C) Too much free time
D) Acceptance of authority without question
  • 16. What is the role of 'meaning' in Dewey's theory?
A) It is irrelevant to thinking
B) It connects a present idea to a future consequence
C) It is a dictionary definition
D) It is a purely linguistic concept
  • 17. According to Dewey, what is the first step in the reflective thought process?
A) A felt difficulty
B) Accepting a conclusion
C) Testing a solution
D) Formulating a hypothesis
  • 18. Dewey was a leading proponent of which school of thought?
A) Idealism
B) Pragmatism
C) Stoicism
D) Existentialism
  • 19. What educational approach is most closely associated with Dewey's ideas?
A) Vocational Training
B) Classical Education
C) Montessori Education
D) Progressive Education
  • 20. Dewey's reflective thinking is often summarized as the 'scientific method' applied to what?
A) Mathematical proofs
B) Theological inquiry
C) Everyday problems
D) Laboratory experiments only
  • 21. Dewey's model of reflective thinking consists of how many distinct phases?
A) Three
B) Five
C) Seven
D) Ten
  • 22. Dewey criticizes teaching methods that rely too heavily on...
A) Scientific experimentation
B) Artistic expression
C) Rote memorization
D) Group discussion
  • 23. For Dewey, the ultimate test of a thought or idea is its...
A) Complexity and elegance
B) Practical consequences
C) Popularity among experts
D) Age and tradition
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