Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking
Involves analyzing and evaluating an issue, situation,
etc. to make a decision, form an opinion, judgment etc.
Involves:
• Analyzing
• Reasoning
• Evaluating
• Problem Solving
• Decision making

Critical Thinking
Be curious…ask questions
Why are things the way they are?
Wonder about “received wisdom”
Ask…. “Can things be different?”
Gather the facts. Facts are required
for correct judgment.
Facts are supported by evidence

Critical Thinking
Examine the evidence and the
source
• Seek and evaluate multiple sources
of info and different interpretations
Determine character and integrity of
the source
Ask…. “Is this evidence reliable?”
Avoid emotional reasoning
Passionate commitment is important
but critical thinking requires
objectivity and the ability to
distinguish the difference.

Analyze assumptions, and biases
Including your own
Do they influence the issue?
Objectivity vs subjectivity
Analyze character and integrity
Check your intuition…your “gut”
Think creatively
Tolerate uncertainty
Evidence may be weak or weakened
I’m not sure and I don’t know are acceptable
results of

Blooms Taxonomy

By KellyLawless (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via
Wikimedia Commons
Bailin, S. (1996). Critical thinking. In J. Chambliss
(Ed.), Philosophy of education: An encyclopedia.
London, United Kingdom: Routledge. Retrieved from
https://prxsbbcollege.lirn.net/login?url=http://search.credorefere
nce.com/content/entry/routpe/critical_thinking/0