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University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Teaching critical thinking

Critical thinking is an essential skill that our students will need in order to navigate the rough waters ahead.

Introduction

I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance. — bell hooks

If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusions. — Noam Chomsky

Critical thinking is arguably more important today than ever before. Many complex and evolving problems await our students – both as professionals and engaged citizens. In today’s world, our students find themselves having to navigate contradictory online sources, competing and increasingly exclusionary political messages, along with an array of forces that pacify rather than encourage meaningful engagement in civic and intellectual life. Critical thinking is an essential skill that our students will need in order to navigate the rough waters ahead.

Learning how to do most things, my dad used to tell me, is a little like learning how to swing a hammer. You have to practice in order to do it well. Having spent this past weekend teaching my own children how to use a hammer, I would have to agree. You can read or listen to someone talk about swinging a hammer, the different minor techniques involved but the only way to really learn how to swing a hammer – is to swing a hammer. The same is true of critical thinking (Brawn, 2004; Tremblay & Downey, 2004). There are important critical thinking principles and techniques to keep in mind (discussed below) but without opportunities to practice, critical thinking will remain an abstract idea.

Principles of critical thinking

What is critical thinking? If you’re drawing a blank, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Turns out that most faculty don’t know what critical thinking is or how to teach it (Paul & Elder, 2013). This gap is understandable considering the abstract nature of critical thinking and lack of unity among scholarly works. Nilson (2014; 2017, pp. 36-37) has identified the common ground among the experts in the field, summarized below.

Critical thinking:

• Involves an interpretation and judgement about a claim
• Is difficult, especially when it challenge closely-held beliefs and values
• May require self-reflection, meta-cognition (thinking about thinking), and self-regulated learning

Critical thinking involves both an interpretation and a judgement about a claim. A claim may be challenged because the evidence is weak or the values underlying the claim are questionable. There may be a conflict of interest – those backing the claim may benefit from its promotion. A claim may also be so firmly integrated into the dominant way of thinking that is almost invisible – a seeming universal truth. This last point highlights the fact that critical thinking is particularly difficult when it challenges closely held beliefs. Our sense of self is based upon our values and beliefs – to question these is to question aspects of who we are. Consequently, many students will be reluctant to deeply engage in critical thought. This is why we must make a strong case for critical thinking – to communicate to our students the consequences of an unquestioning approach to our decisions and stances on issues. Take for example, the issue of climate change. Many people who dispute the well-documented claim that climate change is caused by human activity do not base their argument on evidence, but instead on identity – they do not see themselves as part of a social group or as the kind of person who would believe in an idea like human-caused climate change. This underlines the notion that critical thinking reaches beyond cognitive function – it also involves self-reflection, metacognition (thinking about thinking), and self-regulated learning. Encouraging our students to dig deep and examine why they believe what they believe may help them to put beliefs and ideas to the test – in short, to engage in critically thinking.

Questions and activities to provoke critical thinking

Students may learn the skill of critical thinking through engagement with open-ended questions that involve inquiry, analysis or evaluation. Nilson (2014) has complied the following questions to provoke critical thought:

• What are your reasons for coming to that interpretation/evaluation?
• What are the arguments on this issue pro and con?
• How strong are those arguments? What is the evidence behind them and how solid is it?
• What are the main assumptions behind this line of reasoning?
• How can we interpret these data? What conclusions can we draw, if any?
• What additional information do we need to resolve this issue?
• What are the trade-offs, implications, and consequences of each solution we’ve discussed?
• By what standards and priorities will you judge the quality of different solutions?
• What are the limitations of your chosen solution?
• How can you defend it against the arguments in favor of other solutions?
• What are some alternatives that we have not yet explored?

Paul and Elder (2013) have identified eight standards for critical thinking: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, and fairness. Reflecting these standards, they suggest using (or modifying) the following questions:

• How can you validate the accuracy of this statement/evidence?
• How is that information relevant here?
• How well does that conclusion handle the complexities of the problem?
• What is another interpretation or viewpoint on the issue?
• How does this conclusion follow from the data or earlier statements?
• How can both these interpretations be true when they lead to such different conclusions?
• Do you have a vested interest in one position or another? How honestly and impartially are you representing the other viewpoints?

As with any skill, students require practice and feedback. Here are some examples of critical thinking activities:

• Class discussions
• Structured controversy
• Mock trials
• Inquiry-guided labs
• POGIL -type worksheets
• Debriefings of complex  cases ,  simulations , and  role plays

Discipline-specific learning outcomes for critical thinking*

Common ct skills/outcomes/assessments in the  basic and applied sciences.

Which fit your prospective CT course?

• Interpret quantitative relationships in graphs, tables, charts, etc.
• Analyze situations/data to identify problems.
• Identify and summarize the problem/question at issue (and/or the source’s position).
• Categorize problems to identify the appropriate algorithms.
• Assess alternative solutions and implement the optimal one(s).
• Explain how new information can change the definition of a problem or its optimal solution.
• Evaluate hypotheses for consistency with established facts.
• Develop and justify one’s own hypotheses, interpretations, or positions.
• Identify the limitations of one’s own hypotheses, interpretations, or positions.
• Identify, analyze, and evaluate key assumptions and the influence of context.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of procedures for investigating a question of causation.
• Evaluate data for consistency with established facts, hypotheses, or methods.
• Separate factual information from inferences.
• Separate relevant from irrelevant information.
• Identify alternative positions/interpretations of the data or observations.
• Evaluate competing causal explanations.
• Explain the limitations of correlational data.
• Evaluate evidence and identify both reasonable and inappropriate conclusions.
• Identify and evaluate implications.
• Identify new information that might support or contradict a hypothesis.

Common CT Skills/Outcomes/Assessments in  Technical/Problem Solving Fields  (in addition to some of the above)

• Separate relevant from irrelevant info.
• Integrate information/data to solve a problem.
• Explain how new info can change the definition of a problem or its optimal solution.

Common CT Skills/Outcomes/Assessments in  Rhetorical Fields (humanities, some areas in social sciences)

• Determine the relevance of information for evaluating an argument or conclusion.
• Separate facts from opinions and inferences.
• Recognize flaws, inconsistencies, and logical fallacies in an argument.
• Evaluate competing interpretations, explanations, evidence, and conclusions.
• Communicate complex ideas effectively.

Common CT Skills/Outcomes/Assessments Distinctive to  the Arts

• Identify alternative artistic interpretations.
• Determine how well an artistic interpretation is supported by evidence contained in a work.
• Recognize the salient features or themes in works of art.
• Evaluate work of art according to criteria.
• Compare and contrast different works to provide evidence of change or growth.
• Infer the historical context (time, place, artist, motivation, etc.) of a work of art from its characteristics, and justify one’s inference.
• Create a respectable piece of art.

* Source: Nilson, L. (2014).  What Activities and Assignments Promote Critical Thinking?  Magna Publications, Inc.

Resources and references

Brookfield, S. D. (2012).  Teaching for critical thinking: Tools and techniques to help students question their assumptions.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Nilson, L. (2016).  Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors  (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. (Chapter 3)

Nilson, L. (2014).  Unlocking the Mystery of Critical Thinking.  Faculty Focus.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2013). Study of 38 public universities and 28 private universities to determine faculty emphasis on critical thinking in instruction.

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critical thinking

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critical thinking , in educational theory, mode of cognition using deliberative reasoning and impartial scrutiny of information to arrive at a possible solution to a problem. From the perspective of educators, critical thinking encompasses both a set of logical skills that can be taught and a disposition toward reflective open inquiry that can be cultivated . The term critical thinking was coined by American philosopher and educator John Dewey in the book How We Think (1910) and was adopted by the progressive education movement as a core instructional goal that offered a dynamic modern alternative to traditional educational methods such as rote memorization.

Critical thinking is characterized by a broad set of related skills usually including the abilities to

• break down a problem into its constituent parts to reveal its underlying logic and assumptions
• recognize and account for one’s own biases in judgment and experience
• collect and assess relevant evidence from either personal observations and experimentation or by gathering external information
• adjust and reevaluate one’s own thinking in response to what one has learned
• form a reasoned assessment in order to propose a solution to a problem or a more accurate understanding of the topic at hand

Theorists have noted that such skills are only valuable insofar as a person is inclined to use them. Consequently, they emphasize that certain habits of mind are necessary components of critical thinking. This disposition may include curiosity, open-mindedness, self-awareness, empathy , and persistence.

Although there is a generally accepted set of qualities that are associated with critical thinking, scholarly writing about the term has highlighted disagreements over its exact definition and whether and how it differs from related concepts such as problem solving . In addition, some theorists have insisted that critical thinking be regarded and valued as a process and not as a goal-oriented skill set to be used to solve problems. Critical-thinking theory has also been accused of reflecting patriarchal assumptions about knowledge and ways of knowing that are inherently biased against women.

Dewey, who also used the term reflective thinking , connected critical thinking to a tradition of rational inquiry associated with modern science . From the turn of the 20th century, he and others working in the overlapping fields of psychology , philosophy , and educational theory sought to rigorously apply the scientific method to understand and define the process of thinking. They conceived critical thinking to be related to the scientific method but more open, flexible, and self-correcting; instead of a recipe or a series of steps, critical thinking would be a wider set of skills, patterns, and strategies that allow someone to reason through an intellectual topic, constantly reassessing assumptions and potential explanations in order to arrive at a sound judgment and understanding.

In the progressive education movement in the United States , critical thinking was seen as a crucial component of raising citizens in a democratic society. Instead of imparting a particular series of lessons or teaching only canonical subject matter, theorists thought that teachers should train students in how to think. As critical thinkers, such students would be equipped to be productive and engaged citizens who could cooperate and rationally overcome differences inherent in a pluralistic society.

Beginning in the 1970s and ’80s, critical thinking as a key outcome of school and university curriculum leapt to the forefront of U.S. education policy. In an atmosphere of renewed Cold War competition and amid reports of declining U.S. test scores, there were growing fears that the quality of education in the United States was falling and that students were unprepared. In response, a concerted effort was made to systematically define curriculum goals and implement standardized testing regimens , and critical-thinking skills were frequently included as a crucially important outcome of a successful education. A notable event in this movement was the release of the 1980 report of the Rockefeller Commission on the Humanities that called for the U.S. Department of Education to include critical thinking on its list of “basic skills.” Three years later the California State University system implemented a policy that required every undergraduate student to complete a course in critical thinking.

Critical thinking continued to be put forward as a central goal of education in the early 21st century. Its ubiquity in the language of education policy and in such guidelines as the Common Core State Standards in the United States generated some criticism that the concept itself was both overused and ill-defined. In addition, an argument was made by teachers, theorists, and others that educators were not being adequately trained to teach critical thinking.

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• What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

Published on May 30, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information and form a judgment .

To think critically, you must be aware of your own biases and assumptions when encountering information, and apply consistent standards when evaluating sources .

Critical thinking skills help you to:

• Identify credible sources
• Evaluate and respond to arguments
• Assess alternative viewpoints
• Test hypotheses against relevant criteria

Table of contents

Why is critical thinking important, critical thinking examples, how to think critically, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about critical thinking.

Critical thinking is important for making judgments about sources of information and forming your own arguments. It emphasizes a rational, objective, and self-aware approach that can help you to identify credible sources and strengthen your conclusions.

Critical thinking is important in all disciplines and throughout all stages of the research process . The types of evidence used in the sciences and in the humanities may differ, but critical thinking skills are relevant to both.

In academic writing , critical thinking can help you to determine whether a source:

• Is free from research bias
• Provides evidence to support its research findings
• Considers alternative viewpoints

Outside of academia, critical thinking goes hand in hand with information literacy to help you form opinions rationally and engage independently and critically with popular media.

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Critical thinking can help you to identify reliable sources of information that you can cite in your research paper . It can also guide your own research methods and inform your own arguments.

Outside of academia, critical thinking can help you to be aware of both your own and others’ biases and assumptions.

Academic examples

However, when you compare the findings of the study with other current research, you determine that the results seem improbable. You analyze the paper again, consulting the sources it cites.

You notice that the research was funded by the pharmaceutical company that created the treatment. Because of this, you view its results skeptically and determine that more independent research is necessary to confirm or refute them. Example: Poor critical thinking in an academic context You’re researching a paper on the impact wireless technology has had on developing countries that previously did not have large-scale communications infrastructure. You read an article that seems to confirm your hypothesis: the impact is mainly positive. Rather than evaluating the research methodology, you accept the findings uncritically.

Nonacademic examples

However, you decide to compare this review article with consumer reviews on a different site. You find that these reviews are not as positive. Some customers have had problems installing the alarm, and some have noted that it activates for no apparent reason.

You revisit the original review article. You notice that the words “sponsored content” appear in small print under the article title. Based on this, you conclude that the review is advertising and is therefore not an unbiased source. Example: Poor critical thinking in a nonacademic context You support a candidate in an upcoming election. You visit an online news site affiliated with their political party and read an article that criticizes their opponent. The article claims that the opponent is inexperienced in politics. You accept this without evidence, because it fits your preconceptions about the opponent.

There is no single way to think critically. How you engage with information will depend on the type of source you’re using and the information you need.

However, you can engage with sources in a systematic and critical way by asking certain questions when you encounter information. Like the CRAAP test , these questions focus on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

When encountering information, ask:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert in their field?
• What do they say? Is their argument clear? Can you summarize it?
• When did they say this? Is the source current?
• Where is the information published? Is it an academic article? Is it peer-reviewed ?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence? Does it rely on opinion, speculation, or appeals to emotion ? Do they address alternative arguments?

Critical thinking also involves being aware of your own biases, not only those of others. When you make an argument or draw your own conclusions, you can ask similar questions about your own writing:

• Am I only considering evidence that supports my preconceptions?
• Is my argument expressed clearly and backed up with credible sources?
• Would I be convinced by this argument coming from someone else?

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
• Paraphrasing

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Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

Critical thinking skills include the ability to:

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A credible source should pass the CRAAP test  and follow these guidelines:

• The information should be up to date and current.
• The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching.
• The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased.
• For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy.

Information literacy refers to a broad range of skills, including the ability to find, evaluate, and use sources of information effectively.

Being information literate means that you:

• Know how to find credible sources
• Use relevant sources to inform your research
• Understand what constitutes plagiarism
• Know how to cite your sources correctly

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search, interpret, and recall information in a way that aligns with our pre-existing values, opinions, or beliefs. It refers to the ability to recollect information best when it amplifies what we already believe. Relatedly, we tend to forget information that contradicts our opinions.

Although selective recall is a component of confirmation bias, it should not be confused with recall bias.

On the other hand, recall bias refers to the differences in the ability between study participants to recall past events when self-reporting is used. This difference in accuracy or completeness of recollection is not related to beliefs or opinions. Rather, recall bias relates to other factors, such as the length of the recall period, age, and the characteristics of the disease under investigation.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, best major for enhancing critical thinking skills.

Hey everyone, so I'm really into cultivating my critical thinking skills and I was wondering what's the best major for that? I'm currently a junior trying to figure out what to study but there's so much out there! Any guidance appreciated.

While all college majors will require some level of critical thinking, there are a few that stand out as particularly relevant for honing these skills.

1. Philosophy: The emphasis of this major is logic, argumentation, and rationality - the core elements of critical thinking. You'll learn to examine complex problems, analyze different viewpoints, and construct cogent arguments.

2. Literature: With literature, you're constantly engaging with complex narratives, identifying themes, applying theory, and making arguments about the texts you're reading. Your analytical skills will be regularly exercised and refined.

3. Political Science: With political science, you'll grapple with complex theories and confront issues from multiple perspectives. This degree requires making connections between past and present, considering global point of views, and predicting future outcomes.

4. Economics: This involves heavy analysis of data to understand market trends and economic theories, making it another excellent choice. It will bathe you in currencies, stocks, bonds, and other financial concepts that function on analytical thinking.

5. Computer Science: Between the programming, complex math, and problem-solving, this major is great for building logical thinking skills.

Remember, the most important part is to choose a major that you're passionate about, not just one that seems to belong to a 'critical thinking' category. You can develop critical thinking skills in many disciplines if you approach them with curiosity and a willingness to challenge assumptions. Keep exploring your passions and the answer will surface.

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Critical Thinking in Reading and Composition

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Critical thinking is the process of independently analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information as a guide to behavior and beliefs.

The American Philosophical Association has defined critical thinking as "the process of purposeful, self-regulatory judgment. The process gives reasoned consideration to evidence , contexts , conceptualizations, methods, and criteria" (1990). Critical thinking is sometimes broadly defined as "thinking about thinking."

Critical thinking skills include the ability to interpret, verify, and reason, all of which involve applying the principles of logic . The process of using critical thinking to guide writing is called critical writing .

Observations

• " Critical Thinking is essential as a tool of inquiry. As such, Critical Thinking is a liberating force in education and a powerful resource in one’s personal and civic life. While not synonymous with good thinking, Critical Thinking is a pervasive and self-rectifying human phenomenon. The ideal critical thinker is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded, flexible, fair-minded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit." (American Philosophical Association, "Consensus Statement Regarding Critical Thinking," 1990)
• Thought and Language "In order to understand reasoning [...], it is necessary to pay careful attention to the relationship between thought and language . The relationship seems to be straightforward: thought is expressed in and through language. But this claim, while true, is an oversimplification. People often fail to say what they mean. Everyone has had the experience of having their \ misunderstood by others. And we all use words not merely to express our thoughts but also to shape them. Developing our critical thinking skills, therefore, requires an understanding of the ways in which words can (and often fail to) express our thoughts." (William Hughes and Jonathan Lavery, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills , 4th ed. Broadview, 2004)
• Dispositions That Foster or Impede Critical thinking "Dispositions that foster critical thinking include [a] facility in perceiving irony , ambiguity , and multiplicity of meanings or points of view; the development of open-mindedness, autonomous thought, and reciprocity (Piaget's term for the ability to empathize with other individuals, social groups, nationalities, ideologies, etc.). Dispositions that act as impediments to critical thinking include defense mechanisms (such as absolutism or primary certitude, denial, projection), culturally conditioned assumptions, authoritarianism, egocentrism, and ethnocentrism, rationalization, compartmentalization, stereotyping and prejudice." (Donald Lazere, "Invention, Critical Thinking, and the Analysis of Political Rhetoric." Perspectives on Rhetorical Invention , ed. by Janet M. Atwill and Janice M. Lauer. University of Tennessee Press, 2002)
• Critical Thinking and Composing - "[T]he most intensive and demanding tool for eliciting sustained critical thought is a well-designed writing assignment on a subject matter problem. The underlying premise is that writing is closely linked with thinking and that in presenting students with significant problems to write about—and in creating an environment that demands their best writing—we can promote their general cognitive and intellectual growth. When we make students struggle with their writing, we are making them struggle with thought itself. Emphasizing writing and critical thinking , therefore, generally increases the academic rigor of a course. Often the struggle of writing, linked as it is to the struggle of thinking and to the growth of a person's intellectual powers, awakens students to the real nature of learning." (John C. Bean,  Engaging Ideas: The Professor's Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom , 2nd ed. Wiley, 2011) - "Finding a fresh approach to a writing assignment means that you must see the subject without the blinders of preconception. When people expect to see a thing in a certain way, it usually appears that way, whether or not that is its true image. Similarly, thinking based on prefabricated ideas produces writing that says nothing new, that offers nothing important to the reader. As a writer, you have a responsibility to go beyond the expected views and present your subject so that the reader sees it with fresh eyes. . . . [C]ritical thinking is a fairly systematic method of defining a problem and synthesizing knowledge about it, thereby creating the perspective you need to develop new ideas. . . . " Classical rhetoricians used a series of three questions to help focus an argument . Today these questions can still help writers understand the topic about which they are writing. An sit? (Is the problem a fact?); Quid sit (What is the definition of the problem?); and Quale sit? (What kind of problem is it?). By asking these questions, writers see their subject from many new angles before they begin to narrow the focus to one particular aspect." (Kristin R. Woolever, About Writing: A Rhetoric for Advanced Writers . Wadsworth, 1991)

Logical Fallacies

Ad Misericordiam

Appeal to Authority

Appeal to Force

Appeal to Humor

Appeal to Ignorance

Appeal to the People

Begging the Question

Circular Argument

Complex Question

Contradictory Premises

Dicto Simpliciter , Equivocation

False Analogy

False Dilemma

Gambler's Fallacy

Hasty Generalization

Name-Calling

Non Sequitur

Poisoning the Well

Red Herring

Slippery Slope

Stacking the Deck

• Stipulative Definitions in English
• What Is a Synopsis and How Do You Write One?
• What is Disjunction in Grammar?
• Definition and Examples of Explication (Analysis)
• online reading
• What Does It Mean to Make a Claim During an Argument?
• Critical Analysis in Composition
• What is Tu Quoque (Logical Fallacy) in Rhetoric?
• The Meaning of Innuendo
• Learn How to Use Extended Definitions in Essays and Speeches
• Rhetorical Analysis Definition and Examples
• What Is a Hasty Generalization?
• Ware, Wear, and Where: How to Choose the Right Word
• Definition and Examples of Paragraphing in Essays
• Historic vs. Historical: How to Choose the Right Word
• Persuasion and Rhetorical Definition

BADM 1101-13: Critical Thinking in the Digital World

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• Nonprofit Organizations by Jennifer Boettcher Last Updated Aug 29, 2024 425 views this year

Assignments

Response papers (RP):  Students will write four response papers (2-4 pages, double-spaced). Students must draw upon the assigned materials to critically evaluate the arguments put forth and take a position on a question. Students will develop their ability to evaluate ideas and synthesize information while developing their own “voice” through their writing to take logical, compelling, and reasoned positions to develop effective communication strategies to collegially and productively interact with peers, instructors, and eventually, colleagues. Response papers will take different forms. These papers will expand students’ ability to develop a well-reasoned argument and communicate effectively. 

Final paper:  Students will write a final research paper (6-8 pages, double-spaced). This paper will draw on the materials and readings throughout class as well as external research as needed. Students will analytically integrate empirical evidence and draw upon multiple perspectives to deliver a cogent paper. The paper will build what MSB terms FAST skills (Finding, Analyzing, Synthesizing, Telling).

Social Impact Consulting Project:  The Social Impact Consulting Project is integral to the FYS experience but separate from the content of each FYS course. Engaging in such a project allows students to understand the importance of non-profit organizations as a critical part of the business ecosystem. Students will work in teams of five and will work together on a consulting project for an assigned client. The first round of the project competition will be in class. The top team from our class will then go on to compete with teams from other first year seminar courses. The final round will be judged by client executives.

Recommended Reading

• Wall Street Journal
• Bloomberg Businessweek
• Harvard Business Review
• MIT Sloan Management Review
• The Economist
• Fast Company
• New York Times (eastern edition)
• Financial Times (30 day embargo)

Interested in using generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Elicit?

*Reminder: Check your syllabus or ask your professor before using generative AI tools for an assignment. *

*Be aware of the copyright restrictions of any content you upload to an AI tool.

For more information on using generative AI resources in your research, visit our Research Guide .

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Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > Why Is Critical Thinking Important and How to Improve It

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

Why Is Critical Thinking Important and How to Improve It

Updated: July 8, 2024

Published: April 2, 2020

Why is critical thinking important? The decisions that you make affect your quality of life. And if you want to ensure that you live your best, most successful and happy life, you’re going to want to make conscious choices. That can be done with a simple thing known as critical thinking. Here’s how to improve your critical thinking skills and make decisions that you won’t regret.

What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is the process of analyzing facts to form a judgment. Essentially, it involves thinking about thinking. Historically, it dates back to the teachings of Socrates , as documented by Plato.

Today, it is seen as a complex concept understood best by philosophers and psychologists. Modern definitions include “reasonable, reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do” and “deciding what’s true and what you should do.”

The Importance Of Critical Thinking

Why is critical thinking important? Good question! Here are a few undeniable reasons why it’s crucial to have these skills.

1. Critical Thinking Is Universal

Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. What does this mean? It means that no matter what path or profession you pursue, these skills will always be relevant and will always be beneficial to your success. They are not specific to any field.

2. Crucial For The Economy

Our future depends on technology, information, and innovation. Critical thinking is needed for our fast-growing economies, to solve problems as quickly and as effectively as possible.

3. Improves Language & Presentation Skills

In order to best express ourselves, we need to know how to think clearly and systematically — meaning practice critical thinking! Critical thinking also means knowing how to break down texts, and in turn, improve our ability to comprehend.

4. Promotes Creativity

By practicing critical thinking, we are allowing ourselves not only to solve problems but also to come up with new and creative ideas to do so. Critical thinking allows us to analyze these ideas and adjust them accordingly.

5. Important For Self-Reflection

Without critical thinking, how can we really live a meaningful life? We need this skill to self-reflect and justify our ways of life and opinions. Critical thinking provides us with the tools to evaluate ourselves in the way that we need to.

Photo by Marcelo Chagas from Pexels

6. the basis of science & democracy.

In order to have a democracy and to prove scientific facts, we need critical thinking in the world. Theories must be backed up with knowledge. In order for a society to effectively function, its citizens need to establish opinions about what’s right and wrong (by using critical thinking!).

Benefits Of Critical Thinking

We know that critical thinking is good for society as a whole, but what are some benefits of critical thinking on an individual level? Why is critical thinking important for us?

1. Key For Career Success

Critical thinking is crucial for many career paths. Not just for scientists, but lawyers , doctors, reporters, engineers , accountants, and analysts (among many others) all have to use critical thinking in their positions. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, critical thinking is one of the most desirable skills to have in the workforce, as it helps analyze information, think outside the box, solve problems with innovative solutions, and plan systematically.

2. Better Decision Making

There’s no doubt about it — critical thinkers make the best choices. Critical thinking helps us deal with everyday problems as they come our way, and very often this thought process is even done subconsciously. It helps us think independently and trust our gut feeling.

3. Can Make You Happier!

While this often goes unnoticed, being in touch with yourself and having a deep understanding of why you think the way you think can really make you happier. Critical thinking can help you better understand yourself, and in turn, help you avoid any kind of negative or limiting beliefs, and focus more on your strengths. Being able to share your thoughts can increase your quality of life.

4. Form Well-Informed Opinions

There is no shortage of information coming at us from all angles. And that’s exactly why we need to use our critical thinking skills and decide for ourselves what to believe. Critical thinking allows us to ensure that our opinions are based on the facts, and help us sort through all that extra noise.

5. Better Citizens

One of the most inspiring critical thinking quotes is by former US president Thomas Jefferson: “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” What Jefferson is stressing to us here is that critical thinkers make better citizens, as they are able to see the entire picture without getting sucked into biases and propaganda.

6. Improves Relationships

While you may be convinced that being a critical thinker is bound to cause you problems in relationships, this really couldn’t be less true! Being a critical thinker can allow you to better understand the perspective of others, and can help you become more open-minded towards different views.

7. Promotes Curiosity

Critical thinkers are constantly curious about all kinds of things in life, and tend to have a wide range of interests. Critical thinking means constantly asking questions and wanting to know more, about why, what, who, where, when, and everything else that can help them make sense of a situation or concept, never taking anything at face value.

8. Allows For Creativity

Critical thinkers are also highly creative thinkers, and see themselves as limitless when it comes to possibilities. They are constantly looking to take things further, which is crucial in the workforce.

9. Enhances Problem Solving Skills

Those with critical thinking skills tend to solve problems as part of their natural instinct. Critical thinkers are patient and committed to solving the problem, similar to Albert Einstein, one of the best critical thinking examples, who said “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Critical thinkers’ enhanced problem-solving skills makes them better at their jobs and better at solving the world’s biggest problems. Like Einstein, they have the potential to literally change the world.

10. An Activity For The Mind

Just like our muscles, in order for them to be strong, our mind also needs to be exercised and challenged. It’s safe to say that critical thinking is almost like an activity for the mind — and it needs to be practiced. Critical thinking encourages the development of many crucial skills such as logical thinking, decision making, and open-mindness.

11. Creates Independence

When we think critically, we think on our own as we trust ourselves more. Critical thinking is key to creating independence, and encouraging students to make their own decisions and form their own opinions.

12. Crucial Life Skill

Critical thinking is crucial not just for learning, but for life overall! Education isn’t just a way to prepare ourselves for life, but it’s pretty much life itself. Learning is a lifelong process that we go through each and every day.

How To Improve Your Critical Thinking

Now that you know the benefits of thinking critically, how do you actually do it?

• Define Your Question: When it comes to critical thinking, it’s important to always keep your goal in mind. Know what you’re trying to achieve, and then figure out how to best get there.
• Gather Reliable Information: Make sure that you’re using sources you can trust — biases aside. That’s how a real critical thinker operates!
• Ask The Right Questions: We all know the importance of questions, but be sure that you’re asking the right questions that are going to get you to your answer.
• Look Short & Long Term: When coming up with solutions, think about both the short- and long-term consequences. Both of them are significant in the equation.
• Explore All Sides: There is never just one simple answer, and nothing is black or white. Explore all options and think outside of the box before you come to any conclusions.

How Is Critical Thinking Developed At School?

Critical thinking is developed in nearly everything we do, but much of this essential skill is encouraged and practiced in school. Fostering a culture of inquiry is crucial, encouraging students to ask questions, analyze information, and evaluate evidence.

Teaching strategies like Socratic questioning, problem-based learning, and collaborative discussions help students think for themselves. When teachers ask questions, students can respond critically and reflect on their learning. Group discussions also expand their thinking, making them independent thinkers and effective problem solvers.

How Does Critical Thinking Apply To Your Career?

Critical thinking is a valuable asset in any career. Employers value employees who can think critically, ask insightful questions, and offer creative solutions. Demonstrating critical thinking skills can set you apart in the workplace, showing your ability to tackle complex problems and make informed decisions.

In many careers, from law and medicine to business and engineering, critical thinking is essential. Lawyers analyze cases, doctors diagnose patients, business analysts evaluate market trends, and engineers solve technical issues—all requiring strong critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking also enhances your ability to communicate effectively, making you a better team member and leader. By analyzing and evaluating information, you can present clear, logical arguments and make persuasive presentations.

Incorporating critical thinking into your career helps you stay adaptable and innovative. It encourages continuous learning and improvement, which are crucial for professional growth and success in a rapidly changing job market.

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile from Pexels

Critical thinking is a vital skill with far-reaching benefits for personal and professional success. It involves systematic skills such as analysis, evaluation, inference, interpretation, and explanation to assess information and arguments.

By gathering relevant data, considering alternative perspectives, and using logical reasoning, critical thinking enables informed decision-making. Reflecting on and refining these processes further enhances their effectiveness.

The future of critical thinking holds significant importance as it remains essential for adapting to evolving challenges and making sound decisions in various aspects of life.

What are the benefits of developing critical thinking skills?

Critical thinking enhances decision-making, problem-solving, and the ability to evaluate information critically. It helps in making informed decisions, understanding others’ perspectives, and improving overall cognitive abilities.

How does critical thinking contribute to problem-solving abilities?

Critical thinking enables you to analyze problems thoroughly, consider multiple solutions, and choose the most effective approach. It fosters creativity and innovative thinking in finding solutions.

What role does critical thinking play in academic success?

Critical thinking is crucial in academics as it allows you to analyze texts, evaluate evidence, construct logical arguments, and understand complex concepts, leading to better academic performance.

How does critical thinking promote effective communication skills?

Critical thinking helps you articulate thoughts clearly, listen actively, and engage in meaningful discussions. It improves your ability to argue logically and understand different viewpoints.

How can critical thinking skills be applied in everyday situations?

You can use critical thinking to make better personal and professional decisions, solve everyday problems efficiently, and understand the world around you more deeply.

What role does skepticism play in critical thinking?

Skepticism encourages questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and distinguishing between facts and opinions. It helps in developing a more rigorous and open-minded approach to thinking.

What strategies can enhance critical thinking?

Strategies include asking probing questions, engaging in reflective thinking, practicing problem-solving, seeking diverse perspectives, and analyzing information critically and logically.

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• What is Critical Thinking?

The ability to think critically calls for a higher-order thinking than simply the ability to recall information.

Definitions of critical thinking, its elements, and its associated activities fill the educational literature of the past forty years. Critical thinking has been described as an ability to question; to acknowledge and test previously held assumptions; to recognize ambiguity; to examine, interpret, evaluate, reason, and reflect; to make informed judgments and decisions; and to clarify, articulate, and justify positions (Hullfish & Smith, 1961; Ennis, 1962; Ruggiero, 1975; Scriven, 1976; Hallet, 1984; Kitchener, 1986; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991; Mines et al., 1990; Halpern, 1996; Paul & Elder, 2001; Petress, 2004; Holyoak & Morrison, 2005; among others).

After a careful review of the mountainous body of literature defining critical thinking and its elements, UofL has chosen to adopt the language of Michael Scriven and Richard Paul (2003) as a comprehensive, concise operating definition:

Critical thinking is 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.

Paul and Scriven go on to suggest that critical thinking is based on: "universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. It entails the examination of those structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: purpose, problem, or question-at-issue, assumptions, concepts, empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions, implication and consequences, objections from alternative viewpoints, and frame of reference. Critical thinking - in being responsive to variable subject matter, issues, and purposes - is incorporated in a family of interwoven modes of thinking, among them: scientific thinking, mathematical thinking, historical thinking, anthropological thinking, economic thinking, moral thinking, and philosophical thinking."

This conceptualization of critical thinking has been refined and developed further by Richard Paul and Linder Elder into the Paul-Elder framework of critical thinking. Currently, this approach is one of the most widely published and cited frameworks in the critical thinking literature. According to the Paul-Elder framework, critical thinking is the:

• Analysis of thinking by focusing on the parts or structures of thinking ("the Elements of Thought")
• Evaluation of thinking by focusing on the quality ("the Universal Intellectual Standards")
• Improvement of thinking by using what you have learned ("the Intellectual Traits")

Selection of a Critical Thinking Framework

The University of Louisville chose the Paul-Elder model of Critical Thinking as the approach to guide our efforts in developing and enhancing our critical thinking curriculum. The Paul-Elder framework was selected based on criteria adapted from the characteristics of a good model of critical thinking developed at Surry Community College. The Paul-Elder critical thinking framework is comprehensive, uses discipline-neutral terminology, is applicable to all disciplines, defines specific cognitive skills including metacognition, and offers high quality resources.

Why the selection of a single critical thinking framework?

The use of a single critical thinking framework is an important aspect of institution-wide critical thinking initiatives (Paul and Nosich, 1993; Paul, 2004). According to this view, critical thinking instruction should not be relegated to one or two disciplines or departments with discipline specific language and conceptualizations. Rather, critical thinking instruction should be explicitly infused in all courses so that critical thinking skills can be developed and reinforced in student learning across the curriculum. The use of a common approach with a common language allows for a central organizer and for the development of critical thinking skill sets in all courses.

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“Clear and concise, ... this book is helpful for anyone looking to enhance their critical thinking skills.” — University of Houston Law Center O'Quinn Law Library

Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

We understand that it's difficult to learn how to use critical thinking more effectively in just one article, but our service is here to help.

We are a team specializing in writing essays and other assignments for college students and all other types of customers who need a helping hand in its making. We cover a great range of topics, offer perfect quality work, always deliver on time and aim to leave our customers completely satisfied with what they ordered.

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Attend the 2024 Fall Academy on Critical Thinking in the Arkansas Ozarks! Read More Here

Fall Critical Thinking Academy

November 15-17, 2024 in the arkansas ozarks.

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The spring semester begins january 21st, 2025.

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Join us in the Arkansas Ozarks November 15th-17th, 2024 for a unique learning experience led by Senior Fellows of the Foundation for Critical Thinking. Members of the  Center for Critical Thinking Community Online : please email us for another 20% off.

Online Course for Critical Thinking Certification

Those looking to be  certified in the Paul-Elder Approach to Critical Thinking can complete their facilitator training in the Spring 2025 Online Certification Course . Course meetings begin February 5th, 2025!

Call for Volunteers!

The Foundation for Critical Thinking is seeking a volunteer programmer and a volunteer social media marketing expert . Volunteers will receive free access to our  learning opportunities and to the  Center for Critical Thinking Community Online while working with us. For details, see our  Call for Volunteers page.

Free Webinar Workshop: Why Self-Deception Is a Tremendous Barrier to Critical Thinking

Join Dr. Gerald Nosich September 25th at 2:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. Pacific). This webinar workshop will illuminate some ways in which self-deception sabotages our development as reasoners, and it will offer strategies for recognizing and undercutting manifestations of our self-deceptive tendencies.

Critical Thinking Podcast

Only in the Center for Critical Thinking Community Online . Join Drs. Linda Elder and Gerald Nosich, international authorities on critical thinking, as they break new ground in the podcast Critical Thinking: Going Deeper .

Full-Semester Courses in Critical Thinking

Fall 2024 Registration Open Now. Study under the guidance of a first-generation Paulian Scholar from the comfort of your home or office! Complete coursework on your own time with continual feedback.

I found that I was fitted for nothing so well as for the study of Truth . . . with desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order . . . being a man that neither affects what is new nor admires what is old, and that hates every kind of imposture.

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For more than 40 years, our goal has been to promote essential change in education and society by cultivating fairminded critical thinking — thinking which embodies intellectual empathy, intellectual humility, intellectual perseverance, intellectual integrity, and intellectual responsibility.

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