Critical thinking is associated with various methods and the definition will vary. A business student will look at critical thinking differently from a psychology student. The definition has changed quite a bit over the years; it can be simple and direct, as looking at a situation and asking specific questions and coming up with a conclusion. Educator Diane Halpern’s definition, “Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a positive outcome.” Critical thinking is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned, and is goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in problem solving, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions. Critical thinking also involves evaluating the thinking process - the reasoning and factors considered before making a decision. Critical thinking is sometimes called directed thinking because it focuses on a desired outcome (Petress, 2004, p. 463). People are not born critical thinkers nor do they inherit critical thinking skills; critical thinking is something that comes along as they evolve. Critical thinking skills are problem solving skills that seem to go deeper, examining the ins and outs of a certain situation. One is always processing information and debating certain situations, this is part of the critical thinking process. Critical thinking consists of processes and actions: 1. Analyzing tasks 2. Identifying assumptions 3. Analyzing and classifying 4. Making comparisons 5. Problem solving 6. Analyzing tasks 7. Questioning and challenging ideas 8. Observing facts, comparing them ... ... middle of paper ... ... 2009, from http://www.pearson.ch/Business/Management.com References Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2004). Critical Thinking: Nine Strategies for Everyday Life, Part I. Journal of Developmental Education, 24(1), 40-41. Retrieved January 28, 2009, from ProQuest database. Perle, S. (2004). Critical Thinking and Technique Systems. Journal of the American Chiropractic Association, 41(2), 26-27. Retrieved February 4, 2009 from ProQuest database. Petress, K. (2004). Critical Thinking: An Extended Definition, pp. 461-466. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from EBSCOhost database. Rudd, R. (2007). Defining critical thinking. Techniques: Connecting Education and Careers, pp. 46-49. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from EBSCOhost database. Schafersman, S. D. January 1991: An Introduction to Critical Thinking. http://www.freeinquiry.com/critical-thinking.html
Vaughn, L. (2013). The power of critical thinking. (4th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University
Paul, R. and Elder, L., (2008). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking-Concepts and Tools, 5th. Ed., Foundation for Critical Thinking Press: Dillon Beach, CA
The author Vincent Ruggiero defines critical thinking in his book Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking, as a “search for answers, a quest.” It is the idea that one does not accept claims, ideas, and arguments blindly, but questions and researches these things before making a decision on them. From what I learned in class, critical thinking is the concept of accepting that there are other people and cultures in this world that may have different opinions. It is being able to react rationally to these different opinions.
Critical thinking provides an opportunity to explore the positive and negative sides of an argument for and against an idea, theory or notion. Reasoning and perception is attuned to personal impression and provides outcome to belief and opinion.
What is critical thinking? Encarta Pocket Dictionary defines critical thinking as a type of critical analysis. Encarta Pocket Dictionary defines a decision as firmness in choosing something. The authors of Whatever It Takes suggest that decision-making material and literature tend to emphasize the product of decision-making but does not emphasize the actual process of decision-making. Critical thinking is the mechanical process by which problems are perceived, alternative solutions weighed, and rational decisions are made and decision-making is streams of choices (McCall, Kaplan, xv).
I think critical thinking means looking at a process or object objectively, and through research or experience another outcome can be seen.
The literature on critical thinking has roots in two primary academic disciplines: philosophy and psychology (Lewis & Smith, 1993). Sternberg (1986) has also noted a third critical thinking strand within the field of education. These separate academic strands have developed different approaches to defining critical thinking that reflect their respective concerns. Each of these approaches is explored more fully below.
Questions are something that must be asked and can be very important when reading a literary work, watching a movie, or just simply trying to understand the habits of people today. Asking questions opens up the human brain to dig farther and deeper into the meaning of why someone did something in a specific way and what purpose it has that something must be done in that way. Critical thinking is asking question and trying to hypothesize on what the answer to that question might be. Critically thinking is a healthy aspect of opening up the brain and will improve one’s thought process on how to apply critical thinking in situations where it is dependent, like a future
Throughout our lives, we are bombarded with information of many different kinds. Whether found on the computer, seen through television, heard on the radio, read in a book, or told to us by another person, we are inundated with more claims, ideas, and arguments than can be counted. How does one decide what claims are true, what ideas make sense, or what arguments are convincing though? One way to rationally sort through things that we are skeptical of is by using critical thinking. By thinking through the logic behind an argument or the truth of a claim or premise, it is possible to help choose what claims, ideas, or arguments to accept. Thus, I believe that critical thinking is an important skill to learn, that it can be applied in many different
Critical thinking is the process in which one challenges their emotive, self-centered way of thinking. It causes one to test their own assumptions and question their reasoning. Critical thinking is the process in which one mentally explores deeper than the superficial matters at hand into the deeper layers in order to find out what the real issues are. Successful critical thinking is a process that allows one to creatively problem solve, seek innovative solutions, and essentially "think outside of the box." It also allows one to become more open minded to various situations. Logic and perception both play a role in critical thinking. However, when it comes to weighing their beneficial impact on the critical thinking process, logic and perception are by no means equal. While logic is firmly rooted in reason, perceptions are just as firmly rooted in one's senses, and can easily be corrupted. Therefore, perception is certainly not reality. This is a lesson that I had the opportunity to have reinforced in a recent in-house promotion at work.
Critical thinking is a significant and essential topic in recent education. The strategy of critical thinking skills helps identify areas in one's courses as the suitable place to highlight, expand and use some problems in exams that test students' critical thinking skills.
Paul R. (1995). Critical thinking: How to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Santa Rosa, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.
Critical thinking allows for individual assessments of topics and can be applied to any question posed in any situation. It allows for individuals to think for themselves and evaluate situations on their own to determine the final outcome. In behavioral science and in respect to social work, critical thinking is imperative in order for case workers to make the best decision in any given situation dealing with human interactions and human behavior. This is witnessed in Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and can be further applied in Person-In-Environment (PIE) theory.
Rudd, R. (2007). Defining critical thinking. Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 82(7) 46-49. Retrieved December 9, 2007, from EBSCOhost database.
Fisher, A., & Scriven, M. (2002). Critical Thinking. Its Definition and Assesment. Argumentation, 16(2), 20. doi: 10.1023/A:1015597228975