"Thinking about exercise 'can beef up biceps' "
"Mental gymnastics increase bicep strength"
The above are the headlines in newspapers. Attractive? No pain but great gain. What a fabulous idea!
Before discussing whether the truthfulness of the above headlines, I would like to highlight that newspaper articles are a useful tool to develop critical thinking in science classes. After researching for the relevant articles, we can utilize the tool from Bartz (2002) to promote critical reading in the form of the C.R.I.T.I.C acronym. Each letter represents a task, in the form of a question that the student readers have to consider in order to apply critical thinking to their reading.
The C.R.I.T.I.C model.
C- Claim: Students have to describe exactly what is being proposed
R- Role of the claimant: Who is making the claim and is there something in it for them eg money, fame, power, influence, publicity?
I- Information backing the claim: What evidence is offered in support of the claim?
T- Test: If there is some reason to doubt the claim, how might an adequate test be designed?
I- Independent testing: Has any unbiased source actually carried out a rigorous independent test of the claim and published the results, ideally in a reputable, peer-reviewed research journal?
C- Cause proposed: What is held out as a causal explanation for the claim and is it consistent with the physical laws of the universe?
Examples of applying the model to the article "Thinking about exercise 'can beef up biceps' "
C- Claim: Our thoughts can literally redefine the size and strength of our bodies.
R- Role of the claimant: It is reported in a newspaper to introduce new findings in exercise science.
I- Information backing the claim: Based on a study published in a peer-reviewed journal.
T- Test: Since this concept was only tested on the small muscles ie. biceps, further studies are required to investigate the concept on different muscle groups and compare with real physical training.
I- Independent testing: Yes
C- Cause proposed: Mental training enhances the neural output signal which drives the muscles to a higher activation level and increases strength. This finding can help patients too weak to exercise to maintain their strength.
However, don't be too excited with the results. Physical training generally stimulates much greater improvement in muscle strength. It is recommended that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity every day is beneficial to health.
References:
Bartz, W.R. (2002). Teaching skepticism via the CRITIC acronym and the skeptical inquirer. The Skeptical Inquirer, 26 (5), 42-44.
Ranganathan, VK. and et al.(2004) Fom mental power to muscle power- gaining strength by using the mind. Neuropsychologia 42, 944-956.
Uhlig, R. (2001) Thinking about exercise 'can beef up biceps'. The telegraph.