Critical thinking is an invaluable skill that everyone should strive to achieve the highest level possible. Critical thinking is the ability to reflectively assess a situation while being sensitive to the context and consciously removing personal biases. In my life, critical thinking is applied in many areas. My job consistently presents circumstances that require troubleshooting and it is imperative to think through those situations critically. Logical conclusions are often clouded and difficult to dissect in my workplace because some employees cannot effectively remove their emotions from the equation. There is an innate drive to succeed among my peers and any admission of less than perfect results yield apprehensive and subjective troubleshooting efforts.
In addition, being the mother of two type 1 diabetic children requires me to analyze situations that directly impact their health. It is not always easy to remove the emotion because the short term solution requires more suffering on their part, but will prevent a longer lasting more dire situation from occurring in the future. They often present with great examples of predicaments where there is no right or wrong answer because of the situational nature of each event. Because of this, it is extraordinarily difficult to teach a care giver, like a school nurse, how to care for them effectively. Instead of providing a generic guide, we work through each situation honing their critical thinking skills so that they will be able to effectively care for situations that arise in the future.
Finally, critical thinking is also present in my life while planning for my future. As an adult, there are many difficult tasks to face and plan for. From career paths and financial ...
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...ronounced effort, a person can put most of their emotions aside and forge forward with an open mind. By nature, people tend to feel first and think second; this process generally leads to perceptions and thinking being shaped by emotions rather than critical thought (Bussey & Bandura, 1999, p. 4). Strong feelings cloud good critical thinking exercises and truly derail an evaluation.
Works Cited
Browne, M.N., & Keeley, S. M. (2012) Asking the right questions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Bussey, K., & Bandura, A. (1999). Social cognitive theory of gender development and differentiation. Psychological Review, 106(4), 676-713. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.106.4.676
Mejía D, A. (2009). In just what sense should I be critical? An exploration into the notion of 'assumption' and some implications for assessment. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 28(4), 351-367.
Critical thinking occurs when a person thinks about a subject or problem to where the improvement of the quality of ones own thinking using skillful analogies, then assessing and reconstructing them. A few important skills that is learned through critical thinking is learning how to discipline oneself in thinking, understanding the world as well as learning themselves. Critical thinking in the business world has many benefits in the process of decision making by employers as well as employees.
In order to develop critical thinking, it is important for individuals to be clear as to the purpose of the task or topic at hand, and the main question that is at issue in regard to it. To accomplish this goal, it is essential to: strive to be clear, accurate, precise and relevant, practice thinking beneath the surface, be logical and fair-minded, apply critical thinking skills to all reading, writing, speaking and listening activities, and apply these skills to all aspects of work as well as life in general.
If I had spent several weeks preparing a term paper and received an assessment I did not agree with, LOI could help me see past the emotive and think critically about the feedback. At age fifty-two, I am still just a beginning student of critical thinking. I have used, in layman’s terms some of the principals in my professional and personal life. This week’s reading have helped to formulize some of the processes and attitudes I have practiced for over forty years.
Critical thinking is an important aspect of an individual’s daily life, regardless of an ethnicity, gender, or age. The individual, who has a strong sense of critical thinking skills, has a sense of inquisitiveness, finding an inventive solution to a problem or issue that he or she may be faced with. Critical thinking is used on an individual’s personal life he or she as well will use his or her critical thinking skills on a professional level. In the following paper the discussion of what critical thinking is as well as discusses the “University of Phoenix’s” decision making model, and how critical thinking skills can help us make a crucial decision. The subsequent paragraphs will also discuss the significance of as well as the benefits of critical thinking.
It is a source of education and a powerful resource in the life of every individual and in social life. Despite the fact that the identification and analysis of critical thinking skills are beyond the boundaries of a single discipline or subject, the learning and application of these skills require possession of certain knowledge. The value of critical thinking is lost if it is treated as a list of logical operations, and the possession of certain knowledge is regarded simply as a collection of information. The investigation of the relationship of a value judgment and the actual use may lead to a new assessment of the need for common concepts of critical thinking and the possession of certain knowledge in education (Paul,
This early definition of critical thinking was crucial to the development and survival of scholars and philosophers of that time. In comparison, Paul and Elder (2002:119-122) direct students toward developing intellectual standards that include self-evaluation and avoiding prejudice while constantly questioning importance and relevance with everything being read, studied and listened to. Xander Hamilton-Reeves (2009 online) offers a more simplistic definition of ‘filtering information in ...
Every day, living creatures are making decisions. Whether the decisions are big or small, they have to be made. As the decisions are performed, there is a process that one goes through. Different types of thinking styles and thought processes are available. The way one feels, believes, attitudes, and relating ideas can play a big part in their thinking styles. Various methods of thinking and thinking styles are used. In this paper the subject is to discuss is three different types of thinking styles. The three different styles discussed will be creative, pessimistic, and optimistic thinking. Creative, pessimistic, and optimistic thinking are three different ways a person can critically analyze any situation. This paper will compare and contrast the three different styles and discuss how each affects the critical thinking process. It will also include critical thinking in the decision- making process by incorporating the discussion on workplace examples that entails the three different types of thinking styles examined. After reading this paper, one will have a full understanding of these thinking styles and the decision making process. Lastly how one may think and how that contributes to their decision process will also be evident.
I have often felt that I’m a competent critical thinker, but then there is that word feeling in my statement. In chapter two, the author Ruggiero explains that often feeling and thought are interchangeable (18). On some issues I believe I have done just that, used my personal feelings and beliefs to influence my opinions, and arguments, preventing me from seeing the other side. For instance, how I originally viewed the homeless and poor. They were drunk, lazy, and had made the personal choice to live the way they were living. Of course, so...
2. Richard, Paul “Critical Thinking: Basic Theory and Instructions Structures,” Foundations for Critical Thinking. 1977. P
What is not easily recognized is the fact that the very fabric of life is dependent on the ability to think properly and make good decisions. Improper thinking is costly in the quality of life and monetarily. The result of a critical thinker that has worked to cultivate proper thinking skills includes: the ability to ask vital questions and to identify problems with clarity. A critical thinker also collects relevant information while effectively interpreting it, thinks with an open mind, uses alternative systems of thought, and understands how to communicate while working to formulate a strong solution. In summary, critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. Above all else, the standards of excellence are rigorous, and it entails the prospect of overcoming the challenge of sociocentrism and
My academic decisions can sometimes lead me to have a negative state of mind. The text states that critical thinking requires a willingness and passion to explore, probe, question, and search for answers and solutions. Staying positive and have a positive attitude can assist me in knowing how to approaching, and making decisions. The chapter also taught me that asking questions is a pa...
Critical thinking is a process of applying various skills to analyze information. Critical thinking uses rationality to distinguish between emotion and fact. This paper will discuss the definition of critical thinking, and the skills it takes to think critically. It will also provide an example of critical thinking applied to my current working environment. Finally this paper will discuss the importance and benefits of critical thinking in the decision-making processes.
Critical thinking and decision-making are related in more ways than people think. This paper will define critical thinking and decision-making according to the book Whatever It Takes. It will also present a personal definition of critical thinking and decision-making from the author of this paper. The relationship between the two will be explained as well as the benefits of being a critical thinker. The author of this paper will also show how critical thinking is present in his organization and how he implements critical thinking techniques on a daily basis.
...sion making process. One may believe that a quick decision is a good, but often when one looks deeper into the facts involved he finds that more problems are present because an important decision was rushed. In the case of Valley Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc., critical thinking in the decision making process of daily service calls prevents costly errors.
Critical thinking regularly involves the capability to interpret information and make knowledgeable decisions based on such information. Additionally, problem solving is frequently theorised as the use of critical thinking skills towards the effective solution of a specific problem or towards a specific end goal. Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances. The general goal of thinking is to figure out some situation” (Critical Thinking, 2001, p.1), solve some problem, answer some questions, or resolve some issue. It also is a process in which a person pursuits reliable and pertinent information about the world. Critical thinking is often described as reasonable, ruminative, trustworthy, and a well-practiced form of thinking that assists people with deciding what they should believe in and what actions should be taken. A practiced critical thinker will ask good questions, collects pertinent data, categorizes common characteristics, logically reasons with the new data and then he or she will come to a trustworthy and dependable conclusion. Critical thinking makes use of many processes and procedures. Some processes include but is not limited to asking questions, making judgments, and identifying