Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us, and it’s impossible to make the perfect choice every time. But there are many ways to improve our chances — and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking. In this video Samantha Agoos describes a five-step process that may help you overcome any problems.
Critical thinking is a way of approaching a question that allows us to carefully deconstruct a situation. This helps us reveal its hidden issues such as bias and manipulation, and then make the best decision.
Rather than choosing an answer because it feels right, a person who uses critical thinking subjects all available options to scrutiny and scepticism. Using the tools at their disposal they eliminate all but the most useful and reliable information.
There are different ways of approaching critical thinking but this video suggests the following five steps:
Formulate your question
In other words you should know what you are looking for. You should have a clear view of what you are trying to accomplish and then make a decision that will suit your needs.
Gather your information
Tons of information is available so having a clear idea of your needs will help you determine what is relevant and thus help you make an informed choice.
Apply the information
This is something you can do by asking critical questions. When you have to make a decision ask yourself what concepts are at work, what assumptions exist, and whether your interpretation of the information is logically sound?
Consider the implications
This means simply that you should think about the long-term consequences when you make your choice.
Explore other points of view
Exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints might answer a lot of hidden questions. This will allow you to explore alternatives and help you make more informed decisions.
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