Critical thinking: knowledge and skills for evidence-based practice.
OBJECTIVE
I respond to Kamhi's (2011) conclusion in his article "Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty in Clinical Practice" that rational or critical thinking is an essential complement to evidence-based practice (EBP).


METHODS
I expand on Kamhi's conclusion and briefly describe what clinicians might need to know to think critically within an EBP profession. Specifically, I suggest how critical thinking is relevant to EBP, broadly summarize the relevant skills, indicate the importance of thinking dispositions, and outline the various ways our thinking can go wrong.


CONCLUSIONS
I finish the commentary by suggesting that critical thinking skills should be considered a required outcome of our professional training programs.
Finn
Patrick
P
Communication Sciences and Special Education, 514 Aderhold Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. pfinn@uga.edu
D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D036262:Empirical Research; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000193:education; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011340:Problem Solving; D011361:Professional Competence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000193:education; D013850:Thinking; D035501:Uncertainty