Critical Thinking – A Comprehensive Guide to Development

Do not accept information as truth until you gather all available facts on the subject under study. The same applies to any conversation. You cannot blindly trust someone unless they provide logical arguments.

After any conversation and receiving new information, make sure to verify it. Avoid drawing hasty conclusions about a person until you get to know them well enough. Misjudgments often result from insufficient knowledge of the facts.

In this article, we will explore the principles of critical thinking in the most comprehensive way. After reading, you will be able to master this skill as simply and quickly as possible.

What is critical thinking – definition

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally. Critical thinking involves actively and skillfully interpreting, applying, analyzing, and evaluating information derived from observations, experience, contemplation, reasoning, or communication. It includes the ability to reflect and think independently. A person possessing critical thinking skills can do the following:

• Understand logical connections between ideas.
• Identify, construct, and evaluate arguments.
• Detect inconsistencies and common errors in reasoning.
• Systematically solve problems.
• Determine the relevance and importance of ideas.
• Reflect on the justification of one’s beliefs and values.

Thinking critically does not simply mean accumulating information. A person with erudition and a good memory does not necessarily excel in critical thinking. Critical thinkers can draw conclusions from what they know, use information to solve problems, and seek relevant sources of information for self-improvement.

It is a form of thinking that entails self-improvement.

Critical thinking should not be confused with argumentation or a critical attitude toward other people. Although these thinking skills can be used to identify contradictions during debates, their full potential is better employed in problem-solving, either within a group or individually.

This type of thinking helps acquire missing knowledge, form personal conclusions and theories, as well as find a way out of seemingly “hopeless” situations. You will be able to effectively manage your life, fulfill desires, and make important decisions correctly.

Critical thinking is a tool for effectively solving problems and challenges. The skill of a critical mind allows you to see all sides of an issue and a posed problem. It is entirely compatible with “unconventional” thinking, challenging common opinions, and applying less popular approaches.

The importance of critical thinking

People often believe that thinking is inherent to our nature. However, much of our thinking is directed inward. Therefore, we observe bias, distortion of facts, and ignorance. Few understand the purpose of critical thinking.

Yet, the quality of our lives and what we produce, do, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thinking. Poor thinking comes at a high cost, both in terms of money and quality of life.

To grasp the importance of developing critical thinking, we must broadly understand the key components of thinking that:

• Sets goals
• Asks questions
• Utilizes information
• Applies concepts
• Draws conclusions
• Makes assumptions
• Generates implications
• Expresses a point of view

Each of these structures influences the others. If you change your goal or agenda, you change your questions and issues. If you change your questions and issues, you are compelled to seek new information and data. If you gather new information and data…

Understanding these interconnections, how one situation affects another, and what outcome to expect is critical thinking.

Critical thinking is highly important in the knowledge economy. Information and technologies are rapidly advancing. Therefore, individuals must be able to react quickly and effectively to changes. The modern, tech-savvy world places increased demands on flexible intellectual skills, the ability to analyze information, and integrate various sources of knowledge when solving problems.

Critical thinking enhances information delivery and contributes to personal well-being. Communication and information presentation skills improve in individuals. Clear and systematic thinking enhances the expression of ideas. Thus, we can present our ideas and thoughts in a language accessible to others.

No matter how high our intelligence is, if we do not possess language skills to present that intelligence to others, it becomes irrelevant. A distinctive feature of critical thinking is the ability to explain information to others, from whom we gain authority and benefits.

Critical thinking fosters the development of creativity. Creative problem-solving involves not only the presence of new ideas but also the requirement that the generated new ideas are useful and relevant to the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones, and modifying them if necessary.

Critical thinking is crucial for self-analysis. To live meaningfully and shape our lives appropriately, we need to justify and contemplate our values and decisions. Critical thinking provides tools for this process of self-assessment.

Good critical thinking is the foundation of science and democracy. Science requires the critical use of reason in conducting experiments and confirming theories. For a liberal democracy to function correctly, citizens capable of thinking critically about social issues are needed to justify their judgments on proper governance and to overcome prejudices and biases.

Principles of critical thinking

Having explored the concept of critical thinking and its significance, let’s delve into the principles that will guide you in acquiring critical thinking skills.

1. Understanding and defining all terms

Understanding and aligning the definitions of terms is one of the key elements in gathering factual information. When a critical thinker encounters an unfamiliar term, the search for facts pauses until there is a complete and unambiguous understanding of the term and any associated contextual meanings or concepts.

2. Gathering the most comprehensive information

A critical thinker must have both a starting and ending point for information gathering. The starting point should be narrow enough to avoid information overload. Similarly, the ending point should align with the essential criterion of the word “comprehensive.” In other words, the information should consist of all relevant and suitable data. The results of fact-finding should form a solid foundation for higher-order critical thinking.

3. Questioning the source of facts

The explosion of information on the worldwide web is both a blessing and a curse for researchers. Richard Fuller, in the book “Critical Path,” claims that until 1900, information doubled every 100 years. By 1950, it doubled every 25 years. And by 1982, it started doubling every year.

IBM successfully predicted a doubling of information every 12 hours by 2020. By the end of 2022, information is expected to double every 6 hours.

Despite the rapid increase in information worldwide, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to its quality. The accelerated growth of information is mainly attributed to entertaining content. People find it easier to create content on social networks, websites, and video portals, but they don’t often generate genuinely useful information. Currently, everything is based on the quick consumption of “light” content. And demand drives supply.

Due to the overwhelming flow of information, the need for critical thinking is on the rise. Someone genuinely eager to develop and acquire quality knowledge must be able to distinguish useful information from useless (informational garbage).

Here’s an example:

To make it to the top of the list, websites, articles, technical documents, and other related data must pass through Google’s search algorithm. When searching, Google pays attention to the structure and good web design rather than authenticity or reliability. Even so-called “neutral” sources may evaluate a product or service based on the preferences or biases of their editorial team.

So, always question the source of facts. Is it a primary source or based on rumors? Is there a hidden cultural or political agenda behind its conclusions?

The blessing is that there’s no shortage of information on any given topic. The curse is that the accuracy of information needs to be vetted by someone with experience and critical thinking skills.

4. Questioning the ways and methods through which facts were collected or obtained

In addition to questioning the source of facts, a critically thinking individual should investigate and evaluate how facts were collected or obtained in the source.

Were the conclusions based on authoritative research methods? What primary sources does the source refer to, and do these primary sources have a good academic or professional reputation? When a colleague begins a sentence with “According to…”, a critically thinking person says, “Please show me.”

5. Uncovering hidden assumptions and biases

Imagine a brainstorm of critical thinking in the Flat Earth Society. The fundamental assumption that the Earth is a flat disc undoubtedly led the society to the conclusion that gravity does not exist; objects just fall. End of discussion. While the example of the Flat Earth Society is extreme, it illustrates how unquestioned assumptions can drag critical thinking into the swamp of inaccurate conclusions.

6. Understanding personal biases and values

Self-awareness is a crucial element of critical thinking. Biases and values are components of our psychological makeup and influence how we think. Biases are prejudices and values that can be distorted based on preconceptions.

The value of critical thinking lies in everyone critically examining how they think. It’s one of those few tautologies that make complete sense. Critical thinkers acknowledge their biases and values, striving throughout their lives to eliminate prejudices in favor of positive values.

7. Using thought-stopping techniques

If you are aware of your biases and values, you can recognize anxious and offensive signals when dealing with problematic and dysfunctional thoughts. Thought-stopping is a cognitive skill that involves using distraction techniques to halt negative thoughts and redirect them into a more positive (or neutral) direction.

8. Questioning conclusions based on available information

Conclusions are only as good as the information available. Why, for example, did the Flat Earth Society conclude that the Earth is not a sphere? They look up and see the Sun. The Sun, they say, moves in a circle around the North Pole, behaving like a spotlight.

Thus, one can arrive at unusual conclusions if the “available information” aligns with a biased opinion. A Boston University academic remarked, “Flat Earthers seem to have a very low standard of evidence for what they want to believe.”

The same applies when we reach unexpected or counterintuitive conclusions in the process of critical thinking. Our standards of evidence must be high and withstand scrutiny for objectivity and soundness.

9. Never expect all the answers

To obtain all the answers, you must ask all possible questions. Similarly, you should ask the right—or critical—questions, such as:

• What facts or elements of the problem or task am I taking for granted?
• Does cause A lead to result B?
• What if result B is actually the cause?
• What will independent researchers say about my assumptions and conclusions?
• Have I stopped seeking answers due to lack of time or burnout?

10. Exploring multiple causes and effects

If problems and people were simple, most events, behavior models, and phenomena would be the result of a single cause. It’s necessary to consider multiple causality. Most events are rarely the result of a single cause. Instead, our problems are the outcome of multiple causes “working in complex combinations.”

So, even if only one causal factor contributed to a specific result, there are other factors that need to be identified and addressed.

Suppose your organization is experiencing a decline in productivity due to chronic absenteeism. A critical thinking approach would involve considering all factors related to employee absence: illness, falsification of documents, working conditions, quality of supervision, compensation, and so on.

The collection of facts and analysis of results would be based on documented and verifiable attendance records, as well as seasonal and other trends. Absence from the workplace may be an apparent cause of reduced productivity, but what are the numerous reasons for absenteeism?

11. Examining the big picture

The most effective critical thinkers don’t get bogged down in details. Thinking on a large scale allows you to:

• Grasp abstract concepts, ideas, and possibilities;
• Highlight the rules and constraints of the existing system in the workplace;
• Consider all stakeholders—clients, employees, investors, as well as competitors;
• Anticipate future social, economic, and technological trends.

So, as a critical thinking strategy, “big-picture” thinking considers the concept as a whole rather than each individual detail. This allows you to see opportunities over a time span exceeding the duration of the problem at hand. The solutions derived from this approach can be imaginative in their scope—after all, you were looking at the overall picture.

Questions to stimulate critical thinking

What is one of the best ways to train critical thinking? Asking various questions!

I’ve compiled a list of 14 questions that you can pose to stimulate unconventional thinking. Let’s dive into it.

1. Where did you get this information?

This prompts one to consider whether the information source is authoritative. Pose this question to your interlocutor when presented with precise information that requires verification.

Also, ask yourself this question to rectify potential inaccuracies.

2. How would your perspective change if you were on the opposite side?

This question encourages identifying a viewpoint different from your own so that you can better understand the situation as a whole. To fully comprehend a situation or piece of information, we must consider all possible sides.

3. How would you solve this problem?

Seeking creative solutions to common problems is a valuable life skill. This question is an excellent opportunity to stimulate thoughtful reflection!

4. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

Taking a stance in any debate forces one to consider multiple perspectives, weigh arguments, and make an informed choice.

5. Why? Why? Why?

Just like in childhood, ask “why” repeatedly to delve beyond the simple first, second, or even third answer and reach the true depth of knowledge.

6. How could we avoid this problem in the future?

Analyze how to prevent the recurrence of a specific problem.

7. Why is this important?

It doesn’t matter what you’re studying: a historical event or a mathematical concept. It’s crucial to understand why this topic is relevant today.

8. How else can we look at this issue?

It’s easy to adopt a single perspective and automatically believe it’s the only or best way. Reflect on alternative creative viewpoints. This encourages thinking more broadly.

9. Can you give me an example?

Coming up with an example or providing a real-life experience is an excellent way to apply critical thinking skills.

10. How could it have ended differently?

To envision a different outcome, considering “what could have been” rather than “what is,” requires a certain level of innovation and careful analysis.

11. When will we know if it worked?

You’ll have to contemplate what success is and how it can be measured in scenarios where outcomes are not set in stone.

12. Why did you ask this question?

Instead of directly answering the question, this one prompts reflection on what its essence might be.

13. Who might this affect?

When making any decision, it’s important to consider who and how it will impact.

14. Why is this a problem?

Analyzing why something is a problem—rather than simply accepting that it is—helps develop strong problem-solving skills.

Conclusion: How to Learn Critical Thinking

Hone your critical thinking skills to improve the quality of your life, gather genuine friends around you, and be prepared for the changes in our world.

Critical thinking skills involve gathering and evaluating information thoroughly, adhering to the following principles:

• Fully understand and define the terms you are working with.
• Collect facts that form a solid foundation for your critical thinking.
• Ensure the credibility of the facts you gather through your research.
• Employ reliable research methods in your investigations.
• Hidden assumptions and biases can lead to incorrect conclusions.
• Understand your own biases and values and don’t let them interfere with logical thinking.
• Use thought-stopping to overcome distorted values and biases.
• Always question your conclusions and recheck the information that led to them.
• Your critical thinking will never lead to obtaining all possible answers because you don’t know all the questions.
• Remember that most problems, situations, and events have more than one cause, and sometimes multiple consequences.
• By thinking on a large scale, you will broaden your perspective and enhance the effectiveness of critical thinking.