Traits of Thinking Skills (LO3)
According to Peter A. Facione in Critical Thinking: What is It and Why It Counts (Millbrae, CA. California Academic Press, 1998, pp. 1-16.), the expert panel cited above says a critical thinker has mastered six cognitive skills (core thinking skills) and has seven affective dispositions towards critical thinking.
Cognitive Skills (To be transferred in a hyperlinked wheel diagram. When the reader hovers over the keyword, description should pop-up. This is to avoid cluttering of information)
- Interpretation
- Analysis
- Evaluation
- Inference
- Explanation
- Self-Regulation
Interpretation is to comprehend and express the meaning or significance of a wide variety of experiences, situations, data, events, judgments, conventions, beliefs, rules procedures, or criteria. The three sub-skills of interpretation are categorization, decoding significance, and clarifying meaning.
Analysis is to identify the intended and actual inferential relationships among statements, questions, concepts, descriptions, or other forms of representation intended to express belief, judgment, experiences, reasons, information, or opinions. The three sub-skills of analysis are examining ideas, detecting arguments, and analyzing arguments.
Evaluation is to assess the credibility of statements or other representations which are accounts or descriptions of a person, perception, experience, situation, judgment, belief, or opinion; and to assess the logical strength of the actual or intended inferential relationships among statements, descriptions, questions or other forms of representation.
Inference is to identify and secure elements needed to draw reasonable conclusions; to form conjectures and hypotheses; to consider relevant information and to educe the consequences flowing from data, statements, principles, evidence, judgments, beliefs, opinions, concepts, descriptions, questions, or other forms of representation. The three sub-skills of inference are querying evidence, conjecturing alternatives, and drawing conclusions.
Explanation is to state the results of one's reasoning; to justify that reasoning in terms of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, and contextual considerations upon which one's results were based; and to present one's reasoning in the form of cogent arguments. The sub-skills under explanation are stating results, justifying procedures, and presenting arguments.
The experts also said that a true critical thinker has a critical spirit. This is not to say that they are by any means negative or mean. It does mean that they have "a probing inquisitiveness, keenness of mind, a zealous dedication to reason, and a hunger or eagerness for reliable information."
Self-Regulation is to self-consciously monitor one's cognitive activities, the elements used in those activities, and the results educed, particularly by applying skills in analysis, and evaluation to one's own inferential judgments with a view toward questioning, confirming, validation, or correcting either one's reasoning or one's results. The two sub-skills here are self-examination and self-correction.
Evaluation is to assess the credibility of statements or other representations which are accounts or descriptions of a person, perception, experience, situation, judgment, belief, or opinion; and to assess the logical strength of the actual or intended inferential relationships among statements, descriptions, questions or other forms of representation.
Inference is to identify and secure elements needed to draw reasonable conclusions; to form conjectures and hypotheses; to consider relevant information and to educe the consequences flowing from data, statements, principles, evidence, judgments, beliefs, opinions, concepts, descriptions, questions, or other forms of representation. The three sub-skills of inference are querying evidence, conjecturing alternatives, and drawing conclusions.
Explanation is to state the results of one's reasoning; to justify that reasoning in terms of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, and contextual considerations upon which one's results were based; and to present one's reasoning in the form of cogent arguments. The sub-skills under explanation are stating results, justifying procedures, and presenting arguments.
The experts also said that a true critical thinker has a critical spirit. This is not to say that they are by any means negative or mean. It does mean that they have "a probing inquisitiveness, keenness of mind, a zealous dedication to reason, and a hunger or eagerness for reliable information."
Self-Regulation is to self-consciously monitor one's cognitive activities, the elements used in those activities, and the results educed, particularly by applying skills in analysis, and evaluation to one's own inferential judgments with a view toward questioning, confirming, validation, or correcting either one's reasoning or one's results. The two sub-skills here are self-examination and self-correction.
Dispositions Toward Critical Thinking
- Inquisitive
- Systematic
- Analytical
- Open-minded
- Judicious
- Truth seeking
- Confident in reasoning
As you read various articles, examine data, listen to the ideas of your classmates and continue in your coursework, do so with a critical eye. Ask yourself:
- What is the essential element of an argument or position?
- Is there a connection between ideas?
- What is the essential information to support the argument?
- Are the facts true or are they only assumptions?
- What information would weaken the analysis?
- Is this information available elsewhere, but not provided in the article?
- Is it available and is it false or true?
Even more important than challenging the thought of others is to challenge your own thinking and your own assumptions (Self Regulation!). Ask these questions and you will have applied a critical thinking model.
(Adopted from PenState College of Mineral Sciences, https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog882/node/2073)
Last modified: Wednesday, 22 September 2021, 6:41 AM