Critical Thinking REQUIRED!

What does critical thinking mean?  To some students it can be an elusive term but it is one they encounter repeatedly in college and therefore, need to understand.  Critical Thinking is a process that requires you to sort out conflicting assertions, set free personal biases, evaluate available evidence, and develop reasonable/logical conclusions.  Many possible approaches to this process exist; however, it all boils down to asking and answering questions. Just like so many other activities that students work at while in college, it is an accrued skill…the more you use it, the better you get at it.  Critical Thinking is frankly, the most valuable skill you can gain, refine, and practice while in college.   

The American Philosophical Association Delphi Report concluded after two years of research that college level critical thinkers share several similar attitudes: inquisitiveness, open-mindedness, self-confidence, fair-mindedness, willingness to face one’s own biases, flexibility in considering alternatives and varied opinions, readiness to reconsider and revise views, and trust in the process of reason/logic.  These attitudes aid college students to cultivate certain cognitive skills, which are the key components that comprise what it means to be a critical thinker.  These cognitive skills are interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation. 

So how does one work at practicing these important cognitive skills to become a more effective critical thinker?  The best thing to do is focus on four basic questions as guides when progressing through the learning cycle:
1.  Why are you considering this issue or topic?  Critical thinking goes hand-in-hand with personal desires; so, it is vital to question why some issue or topic matters to you.  It may be as simple as “I need to know this to pass a test” or as complex as “I really have a passion for this subject matter and want to learn as much as I can about it.”
2.  What are the various points of view on this issue or topic?  Examining different points of view is an exercise in analysis and involves four steps:

o   Define terms – you need to not just use the same words but those words need to have the same mean for you to have a fair and effective argument.  What if I was talking about limiting health care benefits to members of a family and the parties involved did not define family in the same way that I did.  The argument would be futile because we wouldn’t be discussing the same thing.

o   Look for assertions or claims – you need to identify the claims that someone is making about a topic.  These claims will be sentences that answer key questions related to the topic.  By identifying the assertions/claims, you can comprehend what the other point of view believes.

o   Look for a variety of viewpoints – Do not be tempted to just settle for the first answer you come across.  It is always best to identify at least three other viewpoints on any given topic or issue.  We live in a complicated world and just one simple answer is not always adequate to deal with that complexity. 

o   Practice tolerance – we need to stop attaching ourselves to steadfastly to our viewpoints that we refuse to consider alternatives.  Remember that some viewpoints that seem outlandish today may become readily accepted in a year, decade, or century from now.  By practicing tolerance, we open ourselves up to new ideas that might just alter our lives. 

3.  How well is each point of view supported? To be a good critical thinker we have to be good detectives and look for the evidence.  We want to make sure the evidence is logical and credible; so, we need to examine if it truly supports the viewpoint, doesn’t utilize bias, is consistent, and presents all relevant facts.  We also want to consider the source of the evidence and be willing to take the time to understand all facts and opinions being presented before jumping in and criticizing.
4.  What if you could combine various viewpoints or create a new one?  As you develop your critical thinking skills you will find that one opinion or viewpoint does not cover the whole truth of any given topic or issue.  Be willing to accept that there may be multiple viewpoints that could be combined to create a new one.  Think of the issue/topic and your views of that issue/topic as dynamic not static.  Be open to creativity with your critical thinking because that will lead to innovative and refreshing viewpoints.

Remember Critical Thinking is a process and a skill.  Like all processes, it has multiple steps and takes time in order to have a good end product.  Likewise, like all skill development, practice makes perfect.  In the ever-changing career marketplace, having a vital global skill like critical thinking is imperative. So make cultivating critical thinking a goal while you are in college and beyond. 

Sources:

Ellis, Dave. Becoming a Master Student, 12 ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Print. 

Facione, Peter A. “Executive Summary: The Delphi Report.”  Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction. Millbrae, CA: California Academic Press, 1990. Pdf. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.