{"id":53987,"date":"2021-07-14T06:22:56","date_gmt":"2021-07-14T13:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativecircle.com\/?p=53987"},"modified":"2021-07-14T06:22:56","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T13:22:56","slug":"put-your-critical-thinking-cap-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativecircle.com\/blog\/put-your-critical-thinking-cap-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Put Your Critical Thinking Cap On"},"content":{"rendered":"

How keen are your critical thinking skills? Wait a sec \u2014 don\u2019t rush to judgment. Find out now. Tackle a sample question from TestPartnership.com<\/a>. It consists of a passage, followed by a conclusion and several answers; those multiple choices reflect the possible relationship between the information in the passage and the conclusion. Pick the best response \u2014 the one that accurately links the two. Do so by reading everything completely. Base your selection solely on the facts given here. Note: There is only one right answer. Here you go\u2026.<\/p>\n

Passage:
\n<\/strong>The Red Bus stops every 10 minutes. The Green Bus stops every 20 minutes. Both buses stop at Lansdowne Road. The Red Bus has twice as many stops as the Green Bus.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:
\n<\/strong>The two buses never stop at Lansdowne Road at the same time.<\/p>\n

Answer Choices:
\n<\/strong>1) True<\/p>\n

2) Insufficient Data<\/p>\n

3) False<\/p>\n

Finished with this one? Try another. Then see how you did on both.<\/p>\n

Passage:
\n<\/strong>Multivitamins supplements containing all vitamin types are taken by an average of 30% of adults. Many have Vitamin D deficiency \u2014 the production of which is aided by sunlight. Daily takers tend to be more health-conscious than others. People may rely on multivitamins to prevent deficiencies.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong>
\nMultivitamin supplements are always taken daily.<\/p>\n

Answer Choices:
\n<\/strong>1) Conclusion Follows<\/p>\n

2) Conclusion Does Not Follow<\/p>\n

The correct answers are: 2) Insufficient Dat<\/em>a for the first; and 2) Conclusion Does Not Follow<\/em> for the second. Did you score 100%? If so, don\u2019t get smug about it. According to the source, \u201cThese example questions will be easier than those in the real test, which will contain questions of varying difficulty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huh, \u201creal test,\u201d what\u2019s that? It\u2019s the actual use of items like these to gauge a person\u2019s critical thinking aptitude. Does this happen? The correct (and only answer) is yes. Some professions<\/a> routinely go this route. They administer exams that combine critical thinking with other reasoning and knowledge-based assessments to prequalify candidates. Law enforcement does so as a preliminary means to screen would-be police officers, corrections and probations officers, court officers, and dispatchers. The same goes for firefighters, criminologists, and supervisors. There\u2019s more. During job interviews, hopefuls may have to respond to open-ended questions designed to judge their critical thinking. Even before that, some companies ask job candidates to take a critical thinking test as the first step in the interviewing process.<\/p>\n

I know about this last initiative firsthand. In vying for an opening as a senior writer\/analyst, I found out when scheduled for an interview that I would start with an on-site critical thinking test. Apparently, everyone applying for a job at this firm had to do this. So when I arrived for my interview, I was escorted to a workstation. On cue, I began working through a sizable series of critical thinking questions. The clock ticked; this was a timed exercise. Resigned to this requirement, I found it fun. But I prepared in advance on my own, starting with learning about what critical thinking is.<\/p>\n

What Is Critical Thinking?<\/h3>\n

The meaning of critical thinking is not what may pop into your mind when you first come across the term. Many may view the word \u201ccritical\u201d in its negative or unfavorable context. Critical thinking is essentially the opposite of that. The rationale of critical thinking is to weed out all bias, both bad and good. It aims to get an untainted understanding of what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n

What should you believe in a certain situation? What should you do? The hallmark of critical thinking is to use \u201cpurposeful reflective judgment\u201d to reach a decision or course of action. Logic guides critical thinkers; that is, logic, marked by meticulous attention to detail. Critical thinking inquires. It explores. It teases out subtleties.<\/p>\n

Who knows more about critical thinking than an organization devoted to it? The Foundation for Critical Thinking<\/a> promotes training and education in this skill set. The group advocates for the clarity and value neutrality that result from using it. They note: \u201cCritical thinking cultivates substance and true intellectual discipline.\u201d Easy and spontaneous it is not. \u201cIt entails rigorous self-reflection and open mindedness.\u201d Critical thinkers get to the core of an issue through fine-tuned reasoning.<\/p>\n

Now about that reasoning \u2014 we all think, right? So what\u2019s the fuss about critical thinking? The Foundation explains. Critical thinking \u201cembodies intellectual empathy, intellectual humility, intellectual perseverance, intellectual integrity, and intellectual responsibility.\u201d That\u2019s a whole lot of \u201cintellectual.\u201d This repeated use drives home a major point. Critical thinking is deliberate and focused. It snuffs out facts; then it separates them from fiction. Above all, it filters preconceived notions to achieve its goal. And that is objectivity.<\/p>\n

Now for the formal definition:<\/p>\n

Critical thinking\u202fis the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and\/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What Do You Know at Face Value? An Ancient Philosopher Said: \u2018Nothing\u2019<\/h3>\n

That\u2019s a mouthful, that definition of critical thinking from The Foundation. In line with the nature of this thorough, complex process, it captures its full essence. That said, let\u2019s check with others for a user friendly, working understanding.<\/p>\n

The Miniature Guide on Critical Thinking<\/a> is perfect for this purpose. It offers the following definition. \u201cCritical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.\u201d To hone this capability, critical thinkers \u201cquestion information, conclusions, and points of view. They strive to be clear, accurate, precise, and relevant.\u201d What\u2019s more, they do a deep dive. They \u201cthink below the surface, to be logical, and fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another view. Critical thinking<\/a> pertains to \u201cjudging the true value of statements and seeking errors.” Wikipedia describes this subject as \u201ccomplex.\u201d It notes that definitions vary; yet they align on several key points. Those have to do with \u201crational, skeptical, unbiased analysis, or evaluation of factual evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

In case you were wondering, critical thinking has been around a long time. That horizon is not quite eons but thousands of years. The Foundation provides a rough count. \u201cCritical thinking is a rich concept that has been developing throughout the past 2,500 years.\u201d Why does it cite that number? That timeframe coincides with \u201cthe teaching practice and vision of Socrates 2,500 years ago who discovered by a method of probing questioning that people could not rationally justify their confident claims to knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other words, do not accept ideas at face value. They require validation. How? Closely examine evidence as well as the source, assumptions and implications surrounding it. Put everything through this sieve because, as Socrates said: \u201cI know that I know nothing.”<\/p>\n

\u201cTo maintain the state of doubt and to carry on systematic and protracted inquiry \u2013 these are the essentials of thinking\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 John Dewey, often considered father of modern critical thinking<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Importance of Critical Thinking<\/h3>\n

Who benefits from critical thinking? Everyone. The positives that flow from it cut across all categories, groups, and situations. They culminate in two words that form a powerful advantage when put together: better decisions.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s narrow the scope and focus on the work sector. How important is critical thinking in business? Very. Here\u2019s a compelling proof point. The World Economic Forum<\/a> positions critical thinking as \u201cone of the most desirable skills to have in the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n

The benefits by segment are:<\/p>\n

Companies, Business and Hiring Managers<\/h3>\n

Without doubt, leaders and managers need to make the best possible decisions for their organization. That includes ensuring those who work there do so too. Both day-to-day and longer term thinking should revolve around logic, be systematic, open-minded, and devoid of emotion. Critical thinkers refuse to believe what they hear, see, and receive without proper vetting. Widely held beliefs must go under the microscope too. They question, analyze and come to their own conclusions. \u201cTo think differently, we need to think critically. Different thinking also generates creativity thus innovation.\u201d That is one of the salient points expressed in \u201cWhy Critical Thinking Is Required for Better Decisions.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Certain Occupations<\/h3>\n

Some roles require critical thinking on an out-and-out basis; it\u2019s at the core of their on-the-job activities. People in these lines of work must process information impartially. They need well-honed analytical and observational skills, often on the spot. They cut through the clutter to get to the proper context and heart of a matter quickly and decisively. Indeed<\/a> lays it out. \u201cFor career success in law, education, research, medical, finance and many other career fields, it\u2019s important to display critical thinking skills. It\u2019s an essential facet of any profession where the goal is to deduce information objectively without bias, analyze the content, solve creative problems and come up with realistic solutions.\u201d See \u201cJobs That Require Critical Thinking Skills.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Employees and Job Seekers: Resume Tips<\/h3>\n

Critical thinking is an asset for all career pathways. The same holds true for all stages of employment, including vying for a job. Critical thinkers are good problem solvers and communicators; these are valuable skills for every member of the workforce. Tips: Bring these capabilities to the forefront on resumes. Cite them as action items; add brief examples to substantiate. Also use words such as: analyze, evaluate, identify, interpret, resolve. Prepare to demonstrate critical thinking during interviews. Situational interviews<\/a> test for this. Take a cue from the previous sentence \u2014 prepare. Start with \u201cSituational Interviews and Stress Interviews: What to Make of Them and How to Succeed in Them.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

How Do You Become an Ace Critical Thinker?<\/h3>\n

As noted, becoming a critical thinking pro doesn\u2019t come easy. Borrowing a line from The Foundation: \u201cExcellence in thought\u2026 must be systematically cultivated.\u201d The question is: How? Appreciate the process and familiarize yourself with it. Then practice, practice, practice.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the drill? Different sources offer varying views of how to scale the critical thinking learning curve. The Foundation starts by dividing the method into two main buckets:<\/p>\n

Analyze
\n<\/strong>Identify the purpose of an idea and question at issue as well as the information, inferences, assumptions, main concepts, and points of view.<\/p>\n

Assess
\n<\/strong>Check for clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, significance, logic and fairness.<\/p>\n

Then it fine tunes these principles into a succinct guide. \u201cA well cultivated critical thinker\u201d navigates the critical thinking highway as follows:<\/p>\n