Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Is Necessary

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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

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