Students learn by listening, observing, and attempting to imitate, on essay exams or major projects, the reasoning processes of their professors. Students learn to analyze the structure of arguments, using terminology of deductive and inductive reasoning and identification of reasoning fallacies.
Roots are in the study of formal logic in philosophy.
Roots are in cognitive psychology. These beliefs conflict with assumptions required for critical thinking. When they first discover that not all knowledge is factual, they may conclude all opinions are equally valid. To progress beyond this position, they must explore competing perspectives to see how they can be judged on the basis of criteria such as consistency with evidence. With continued guidance, they may recognize their own role in knowledge creation and come to accept that people may reasonably differ.