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Table
Data Analysis: Four Dominant Themes

Critical Thinking Practical Reasoning Empowerment Theme Comprehensive Solutions
Theme Theme Theme
“When it came to “Using the practical “After presenting our policy “When we began to look
our conversations on reasoning process was brief on the family problem and at the solution possible for
sensitive social and challenging, but I could receiving encouraging feedback, solving our family problem,
political issues, we see why this process I now feel I have a voice and am we realized our solution
realized that developing is so important when empowered to use that voice in needed to be comprehensive
our critical thinking considering how to best the future.” (Student G) in order to reduce the negative
skills was the only way address the recurring consequences that could take
to help us understand problems many families are place in putting this solution
all of the perspectives facing in today’s society.” into action.” (Student J)
associated with those (Student D)
issues.” (Student A)
“Critical thinking “The practical reasoning “The whole process we went “We wanted to provide the
was the solution to process helped me to look through as a policy issue team in most comprehensive solutions
discovering the most at our family problem from developing our policy brief was possible for our family problem
appropriate arguments many lenses to ensure we empowering because we were to ensure the reduction of this
we implemented in our chose the best solution for persuasive enough to convince problem in society as much as
policy brief.” (Student B) resolving this problem.” our peers and community panel possible.” (Student K)
(Student E) to see the importance of this
family problem and why we need
to take action now.” (Student H)
“You can’t develop a “Implementing the “I have never felt I could make “The most comprehensive
persuasive policy brief practical reasoning process the impact I made today after solution to our family problem
when you don’t have the as we were developing our our policy issue team presented could only be obtained by
ability to think critically policy brief showed me why our policy brief and now feel thoroughly evaluating this
about the arguments many legislative policies empowered to actually make a solution through the practical
and counterarguments are ineffective in solving policy difference in the future reasoning process.” (Student
needed to make an the problems families are when I begin working with L)
impact on your audience. struggling with in today’s families addicted to substance
(Student C) society.” (Student F) abuse.” (Student I)

The data on the observations showed the need for rephrasing instructions and
examples for a clearer understanding of the assignments related to three of the four
critical science-focused instructional strategies students were completing in building
up to the development of the policy brief. Also, the data analysis showed the need
to revise the Practical Reasoning Framework Think Sheet by incorporating better
prompts and questions that would help students develop a more comprehensive
understanding of the policy development process and make more informed policy
recommendations.
The notes made in the researcher’s reflection journal regarding the questions
and feedback provided by the panel of community professionals showed students
received a better understanding of how to look at all the contextual factors that can
affect a family problem. Additionally, they learned how to craft stronger arguments
in persuading legislators and policy advocates to respond and better understood
the impact that positive and negative consequences can have when implementing a
solution(s) to resolve the family problem at the local community level.

Implications
Implementing the four critical science-focused instructional strategies and

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