Editing Tim van Gelder (section)

=== Informal reasoning skills ===
Since around 1998, van Gelder's research has been almost exclusively devoted to [[informal reasoning]] and [[critical thinking]].  In particular, he has been developing and evaluating an approach to improving these skills, known variously as The Reason Method, and LAMP ("Lots of Argument Mapping Practice").  The core idea in van Gelder's approach is that informal reasoning is a skill, and so should improve in the same way as any other skill.  According to the leading theory of high-level skill acquisition, the critical ingredient is extensive "deliberate practice" (Ericsson).  Van Gelder and his colleagues have shown that extensive deliberate practice can substantially enhance informal reasoning skills.<ref name="twardy2004">{{cite journal |first=Charles R. |last=Twardy |title=Argument Maps Improve Critical Thinking |url=http://www.reasoninglab.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Twardy-Argument-Maps-Improve-CT1.pdf |type=preprint |date=2004 |journal=Teaching Philosophy |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=95–116 |doi=10.5840/teachphil200427213}}</ref>

The main practical challenge in the LAMP approach was finding a way to enable students to engage in extensive deliberate practice of reasoning skills.  To confront this, van Gelder and his colleague Andy Bulka developed the [[argument map]]ping software packages Reason!Able (2000) and Rationale (2006).

Van Gelder uses this software to help 'teach' the first year philosophy subject ''Critical Thinking: The Art of Reasoning'' which reliably achieves substantial gains in the critical thinking abilities of students (0.7 to 0.85 standard deviations) as measured by pre and post semester testing with the use of control groups of the same ages as the student cohort both studying at Melbourne University and not studying at university.<ref name="twardy2004"/>

Van Gelder has also applied [[argument mapping]] to business [[decision making]], and has released the Reasoning PowerPoint App for this purpose.