A Definition of Critical Thinking: Actions taken or beliefs formulated from identifying and evaluating relevant evidence. Critical thinkers evaluate their current thinking process and examine the evidence that determines their level of thinking. Richard Paul in his article Critical Thinking in Everyday Life: 9 Strategies and Personal and Professional Development recommends a 6 stage leveling system:
Stage One: The Unreflective Thinker (we are unaware of significant problems in our thinking)
Stage Two: The Challenged Thinker (we become aware of problems in our thinking)
Stage Three: The Beginning Thinker (we try to improve but without regular practice)
Stage Four: The Practicing Thinker (we recognize the necessity of regular practice)
Stage Five: The Advanced Thinker (we advance in accordance with our practice)
Stage Six: The Master Thinker (skilled & insightful thinking become second nature to us).
Thus the suggestion is that critical thinking, comparatively like most repeated behaviors, improves and becomes more natural, with consistent practice.
Critical thinking begins with the researchers understanding that investigating and analyzing the evidence which identifies their stage of thinking is as important as identifying and evaluating the evidence which determines their reaction or belief formulation. Consistent and persistent practice of critical thinking improves the researchers' ability to identify and interpret sound evidence when reacting or formulating beliefs. Critical thinkers must choose relevant information, analyze its significance to providing an answer to a hypothesis and present a justifiable conclusion.
No comments:
Post a Comment