Downloadable podcast is available for this Module

What is Critical Thinking?

The word ‘thinking’ can describe any number of mental activities.  Much of our natural thinking, when left unchecked, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or downright prejudiced.  Yet the quality of our lives depends precisely on the quality of our thoughts.  Critical thinking is that mode of thinking – about any given subject – in which the thinker improves the quality of their thinking by skillfully taking charge of its very structures and by imposing intellectual standards upon them.  However, effective critical thinking involves consideration of the full range of possibilities to a problem, including emotional, cognitive, intellectual and psychological factors.

Shallow thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life.  Not only academic success but also success in our work lives depends greatly on solid thinking skills.  It is not sufficient for college graduates to have wide knowledge in their fields.  Successful people are able to apply what they know to the challenges of their jobs.  Today’s employers are not looking for walking encyclopedias, but rather for independent decision-makers and problem-solvers.

Critical thinkers have what employers want.  A well-cultivated critical thinker

• Raises vital questions, formulating them clearly and precisely
• Gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstractions to interpret the information
• Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant standards
• Thinks within alternative systems of thought, recognizing  implications and consequences
• Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems

Critical thinking is essential to workplace fairness because we can hold organizational decision-makers accountable and probe behind cliques and rhetoric.

While the above skills clearly apply to our professional environments, they plan an important role in our personal and civic lives as well.  For example, illogical thinking plays a big part in abusive behavior.  Other examples for which critical thinking skills are useful are the manipulative appeals in TV commercials and the rhetoric sometimes used by corporate, government and other leaders before we accept and act on them.  This systematic evaluation of ideas is appropriate whenever someone makes a claim that is open to question.  And, many such claims are made daily at home, work, and school.

Thus, critical thinking belongs to the category of higher-order thinking skills.  Critical thinking is analytical and logical; it evaluates ideas and identifies the most reasonable ones.  Critical thinking is clear, precise, accurate, relevant, consistent, and fair.

In short, critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking that entails effective communication and problem-solving abilities.  While thinking in general is a natural activity of human beings, excellence in thinking must be cultivated and practiced.

This module provides an overview of critical thinking that can jumpstart and encourages independent thought, promote metacognition, and encourage collaboration.  Here you will find information on the critical thinking process, how to relate the states of cognitive development to logic and critical thinking, and the relationship between logical problem solving and critical thinking.

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