Critical Thinking
Definition
Thoughtful,
of Ideas
Careful, and Systematic examination
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Knowledge
Understanding
Low Order Skills
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
High Order Skills
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Knowledge
Recite
Lists
Complete Objective Tests
Recognize Familiar Terms
Memory
determines the pool of facts and ideas
(content) from which you can reason and draw
conclusions
Understanding
Comprehension
State
the ideas in your own words
Translate the author’s meaning
Outline key ideas
See
if you understand by explaining the idea to a
friend (study group)
Examples: Rewrites the principles of test writing. Explain in one’s
own words the steps for performing a complex task. Translates an
equation into a computer spreadsheet.
Application
Explore
a case study
Solve a problem
Provide examples to support your idea
Extend
course concepts in new directions
Examples: Use a manual to calculate an employee’s
vacation time. Apply laws of statistics to evaluate the
reliability of a written test.
Analysis
Complete
an essay question
Sort ideas into proper categories
Identify assumptions and values
“Compare
and Contrast”
Examples: Troubleshoot a piece of equipment by using
logical deduction. Recognize logical fallacies in
reasoning. Gathers information from a department and
selects the required tasks for training.
Synthesis
Create
and defend a position
Make a unique creation
Improve on an existing design
Analyze
interconnection between ideas
Examples: Write a company operations or process
manual. Design a machine to perform a specific task.
Integrates training from several sources to solve a
problem. Revises a process to improve the outcome.
Evaluation
Criticize
a position
Judge quality using criteria
Cite advantages and disadvantages
Key
to making decisions
Examples: Select the most effective solution. Hire the
most qualified candidate. Explain and justify a new budget.
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Practice honesty with
themselves,
acknowledging what they
don’t know, recognizing
their limitations, and being
watchful of their own
errors.
Pretend they know more
than they do, ignoring
their limitations, and
assuming their views are
error-free.
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Regard problems and
controversial issues as
exciting challenges.
Regard problems and
controversial issues as
nuisances and ego threats.
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Strive for understanding,
keeping curiosity alive,
remaining patient with
complexity, and being
ready to invest time to
overcome confusion.
Show impatience with
complexity and thus
would rather remain
confused than make the
effort to understand.
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Base judgments on
evidence rather than
personal preferences,
deferring judgment
whenever evidence is
insufficient and revising
judgment when new
evidence reveals error.
Base judgments on first
impressions and gut
reactions, showing no
concern about the amount
or quality of evidence, and
clinging steadfastly to
earlier views.
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Show interest in other
people’s ideas and
willingness to read and
listen attentively, even
when they tend to disagree
with the other person.
Preoccupy themselves
with their own opinion, so
they are unwilling to pay
attention to others’ views.
At the first sign of
disagreement, they tend to
think, “How can I refute
this?”
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Recognize that extreme
views (whether
conservative or liberal) are
seldom correct, so they
avoid them, practice fairmindedness and a
balanced view.
Ignore the need for
balance and give
preference to views that
support their established
views.
Good
Un Critical Thinkers
Practice restraint,
controlling their feelings
rather than being
controlled by them, and
thinking before acting.
Tend to follow their
feelings and act
impulsively.
IDEAL Method for Problem Solving
Identify
the problem
Define the problem
Explore alternative approaches
Act on the best strategy
Look back to evaluate the effects
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