Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. It involves asking questions, examining evidence, and considering multiple perspectives. It’s something I’m trying to personally develop more during 2024.
There are many academic findings on the benefits of critical thinking:
– A 2010 meta-analysis published in the Review of Educational Research looked at 117 studies on critical thinking interventions. It found that training in critical thinking improved cognitive skills and critical thinking dispositions. Participants demonstrated more reasoned decision-making and were better able to recognise logical fallacies.
– A study in the Journal of Nursing Education found that nurses who scored higher on critical thinking assessments made fewer medical errors and were better able to catch mistakes. Critical thinking was correlated with improved clinical outcomes.
– Research in the International Journal of Management Reviews showed that critical thinking was a strong predictor of entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurs with superior critical thinking were better able to identify opportunities, make strategic decisions, and manage uncertainty.
– A report in Innovative Higher Education found that college students who took a critical thinking course showed significant improvements in information literacy, writing skills, and social awareness compared to their peers. Critical thinking instruction supports overall academic development.
– A paper in the Journal of Adult Development demonstrated that older adults who engaged in short-term critical thinking training saw improvements in cognitive skills like episodic memory, analogical reasoning, and math comprehension. Critical thinking seems to mitigate some cognitive declines.
The academic literature provides compelling evidence that critical thinking allows people to evaluate arguments rationally, make sound judgements, achieve professional success, excel academically, and even maintain cognitive skills into old age. Investing time into developing critical thinking skills results in measurable intellectual benefits.
Developing strong critical thinking skills can lead to tremendous personal growth and success. Here are some steps you can take to implement more critical thinking in your life:
1. Question assumptions. We all have implicit biases and make assumptions. Start noticing when you may be relying on a belief without concrete evidence. Ask yourself “What evidence supports this assumption?” and “Are there counter examples that disprove this?”
2. Evaluate arguments objectively. When presented with an argument, resist the urge to immediately agree or disagree based on emotion. Instead, break down the reasoning and assess the logic and factual accuracy. Consider if there are any flaws or inconsistencies.
3. Seek different perspectives. Our own experience gives us only one viewpoint. Make an effort to ask people with different backgrounds for their take. Read things written from other cultural standpoints. Weigh each perspective fairly when forming your own opinion.
4. Reserve judgement. Don’t come to quick conclusions without thoroughly investigating an issue. Sit with complexity and resist simplistic explanations. Change your stance as new evidence emerges.
5. Find reliable sources. With the internet, there is a wealth of information available, but also a lot of misinformation. Scrutinise the expertise and motivations of sources when researching. Look for consensus across reliable, independent sources.
6. Develop introspection. Question your own biases, assumptions, and motivations. Why do you think or feel the way you do? Is it based on evidence or emotion? How might your perspective be skewed by your own experiences?
7. Have an open mind. Be willing to change your beliefs and behaviours based on new reasoned analysis. Don’t dismiss counter arguments without consideration. Think flexibly and actively revise your views.
Implementing critical thinking requires humility and intellectual honesty. But it allows us to overcome limitations in our thinking and make better decisions. With time and practice, it becomes an invaluable tool for achieving clarity, wisdom and personal growth.
Bob Bannister
