It is a position similar to the one held by some theorists who affirm general critical thinking skills cannot be developed in isolation from a specific context. SI taps the otherwise natural and uninterrupted process of inquiry. Inquiry begins when some aspect of the subject matter is unsettling, problematic, or just not understood. Critical thinking is employed when knowledge is uncertain. It may also be that peer-facilitated study sessions encourage students to go beyond blindly accepting material as unquestionably clear and settled.
Presumptuous clarity serves to paralyze thought.
Genuine inquiry recognizes no disciplinary boundaries, nor does it limit itself to mechanical processes. He or she avoids directly answering questions about the course content, instead they redirect questions to the group to answer. SI encourages students to develop independent thinking. The SI leader's role as a near-peer removes the temptation to fall back on the expert knowledge base rather than developing one of one's own making. SI sessions mechanically depart from this in an attempt to develop the student's ability to independently think critically about the issues as they unfold.