Critical Thinking Techniques Used In Root Cause Analysis
Root cause analysis is a common term used by investigators and analysts that means different things to different people. However, in its most literal sense root cause analysis requires the performer to systematically break down a situation into individual components or processes in a search for truth that can be supported by facts (Eckhardt, 2007). This analysis should be conducted in the form of an investigation into both the apparent symptoms of a situation as well as the causes that led up to the situation being analyzed. As an example, if performed correctly, a police investigation will use root cause analysis to first determine what happened, and only after the event is understood, would the investigator begin to piece together who (if anyone) may have been responsible for the situation that transpired. A proper investigation may lead to the investigator finding that while a cause to the incident existed, no fault can be assigned to an individual.
To perform any type of root cause analysis, one must by necessity use critical thinking techniques as he or she attempts to uncover clues that would assist in a determination of what occurred. The analyst must be willing to remove all preconceived notions and consider the situation as objectively as possible to avoid contamination of the investigation. Because of the need for objectivity, critical thinking becomes a tool that can assist the user in uncovering clues and facts that will later support a conclusion. Critical thinking by its very nature requires that the thinker be flexible and willing to mold his or her conclusions around the facts that are uncovered and not vice versa (Kitzmiller, Jan-Feb 2003, p. 22). At this point, many thinkers begin to create an outcome based on what they believe and not what they uncover. This presupposition creates problems in the critical thinking process and may produce a faulty root cause analysis. The result will potentially be incorrect due to subjective reasoning that clouded the investigator’s judgment.
As one progresses through the steps required to isolate a problem, it is important to systematically review and eliminate potential factors in the same manner that an electronics technician would troubleshoot a circuit board. This action requires the analyst to have an understanding of the components involved and the process being investigated. By considering, then discarding or retaining scenarios that may have caused the situation, the analyst will be able to narrow the scope of the investigation until the source of the problem has been uncovered.
Causation is the cause of death, and in criminal law it is the connecting of conduct and physiological behaviour with a resulting effect, typically a serious injury or death. The analysis of the actus rea and mens read of the accused will assist the investigators in pinpointing the causation of the murder. In criminal law it is absolutely necessary to prove causation in order to convict an individual for first degree murder.
The false cause logic exists when individuals mistakenly confuses the relationship between two or more elements with causation (Woodard et al., 2014, p. 94). This logic takes for granted a relationship between cause and effect exists without any solid proof or evidence to support the reasoning (Woodard et al., 2014, p. 95). Forbes published an article estimated that...
Throughout this class we have talked about how various disparities can influence both how and when you need health care, be it for physical or mental reasons. Basically if you aren’t a middle class and above white male with a good job you’re basically fucked. Things such as race, gender, education, the environment you grew up in, who you know, and of course your insurance and income play a huge role in how you experience all aspects of healthcare. As explained in the Link&Phelan article, certain social factors can cuase specific health results. As explained in the article the Fundamental Causes Theory “claims that new mechanisms arise because persons of higher socioeconomic status are able to deploy wide range of resources- including knowledge, money power, prestige, and beneficial social connections- that can be used individually and collectively in different places and at different times to avoid disease and death.” What this means is basically those who are better off are more suited and have more chances to combat sickness and to elongate their lives.
Example if a professor tells you that you have a test on Friday and you chose not to study till Thursday, you cannot but the blame on your professor if you fail. When you connect this theory to the movie Crash you see this theory in the scene when the family that owns the shop was robbed and they try and make an insurance claim they were denied coverage. In this situation there was more than one person that found a scapegoat. The insurance company blamed the owner for not fixing the door. The owner blamed the locksmith for not fixing the
A root cause analysis is a systematic approach utilized to identify problems within an event and create a plan for preventing that problem from recurring in the future. To be effective, a timeline of the events are created to help identify those areas that may be the reason for the problem or event, and the relationship between the causal factors and those factors identified to be a reason for the event to have occurred.
Concept analysis includes defining a concept while determining related causes and outcomes. There are several different methods of completing a concept analysis; however, the Walker and Avant’s method is often utilized. This is an eight-step method that entails selecting the concept, determining a purpose, identifying antecedents and consequences, and defining empirical referents (Kalisch, Landstrom, & Hinshaw, 2009). The information obtained provides a more embedded understanding of the concept and its significance.
believing that there is more than one cause. What has been thought as the main
The argumentative aim of this paper seeks to address Bernard Williams in his piece ‘Internal and External Reasons’ and show that Williams is in fact correct in saying there are in fact no external reasons and all reasons are actually internal.
During an investigation there are number of important roles, methods, and a few other things
This is best accomplished by applying critical thinking to an ethical framework. Keeping in mind that it is individual process and solutions arrived are dependent on the person doing the analysis and how her relationship to her environment and where she is in her life course. The framework gives a more conscious thought to analyzing an issue or problem through systematic methodology.
...lity that the victim may actually be partly to blame for the crime that was committed against them. Therefore it is often the environment that the criminal lives in, and the people that around them that influence them into committing a criminal act.
Four broad questions raised by general victimology includes; defining the victim of a crime and the type of crime placed against them or application of said definition. Are they a victim of another person or of the environment? For example, was the victim walking down the street and a stranger came up and snatched their purse. This would be the victim of a crime. Whereas, if it rained for three days straight and an individual was killed after being swept away by flood waters they would be a victim of the environment. A victim may also be a victim of oneself through the act of suicide, or of technology if a local coal company pollutes the area water and they die from drinking said polluted water (Doerner & Lab, 2012).
Understanding the theories of victimology is important to understand the victims, we need to understand the four main theories of victimization. These theories are the principals of victim assessment. It will give the officer the tools to understand the motive behind the victimization giving him different types of views to analyze the victim. The four main theories of victimization are: Victim Precipitation, Lifestyle, Deviant Place, and Routine Activity. These four theories according to victimology give us the idea of how the victim become to be a victim. The word Victimization meanings “an act that exploits or victimizes someone” and “adversity resulting from being made a victim” (Vocabulary.com. Dictionary Victimization (2017)). By understanding the victim and the influences of their social life is important so we can give the victim the treatment and
A concise and effective researchable problem does not convey straight out how the investigation will enhance or resolve an issue; rather, it illustrates how not comprehending one minute thing hinders the conception of a larger issue. Furthermore, an effective researchable problem makes apparent how the explanation and resolution to a research problem has a purpose and function to the investigative problem.
Critical thinking regularly involves the capability to interpret information and make knowledgeable decisions based on such information. Additionally, problem solving is frequently theorised as the use of critical thinking skills towards the effective solution of a specific problem or towards a specific end goal. Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances. The general goal of thinking is to figure out some situation” (Critical Thinking, 2001, p.1), solve some problem, answer some questions, or resolve some issue. It also is a process in which a person pursuits reliable and pertinent information about the world. Critical thinking is often described as reasonable, ruminative, trustworthy, and a well-practiced form of thinking that assists people with deciding what they should believe in and what actions should be taken. A practiced critical thinker will ask good questions, collects pertinent data, categorizes common characteristics, logically reasons with the new data and then he or she will come to a trustworthy and dependable conclusion. Critical thinking makes use of many processes and procedures. Some processes include but is not limited to asking questions, making judgments, and identifying