Mulnix, J. W. (2010). "Thinking critically about critical thinking". Educational Philosophy and Theory. 44 (5): 471. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2010.00673.x. S2CID 145168346. There used to also be an Advanced Extension Award offered in Critical Thinking in the UK, open to any A-level student regardless of whether they have the Critical Thinking A-level. Cambridge International Examinations have an A-level in Thinking Skills. [49] Scott Lilienfeld notes that there is some evidence to suggest that basic critical thinking skills might be successfully taught to children at a younger age than previously thought. [55] Importance in academics [ edit ]

Boychuk Duchscher, Judy E. (1999). "Catching the wave: understanding the concept of critical thinking". Journal of Advanced Nursing. 29 (3): 577–583. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1999.00925.x. PMID 28796334.The Critical Thinking project at Human Science Lab, London, is involved in the scientific study of all major educational systems in prevalence today to assess how the systems are working to promote or impede critical thinking. [42]

There are three types of logical reasoning. Informally, two kinds of logical reasoning can be distinguished in addition to formal deduction, which are induction and abduction. Searching for evidence of critical thinking in discourse has roots in a definition of critical thinking put forth by Kuhn (1991), [64] which emphasizes the social nature of discussion and knowledge construction. There is limited research on the role of social experience in critical thinking development, but there is some evidence to suggest it is an important factor. For example, research has shown that 3- to 4-year-old children can discern, to some extent, the differential creditability [65] and expertise [66] of individuals. Further evidence for the impact of social experience on the development of critical thinking skills comes from work that found that 6- to 7-year-olds from China have similar levels of skepticism to 10- and 11-year-olds in the United States. [67] If the development of critical thinking skills was solely due to maturation, it is unlikely we would see such dramatic differences across cultures. a b Visser, Jan; Visser, Muriel (2019). Seeking Understanding: The Lifelong Pursuit to Build the Scientific Mind. Leiden: Brill. p.233. ISBN 978-90-04-41680-2. Induction is drawing a conclusion from a pattern that is guaranteed by the strictness of the structure to which it applies. For example: The sum of even integers is even. Let x , y , z ∈ Z {\displaystyle x,y,z\in \mathbb {Z} } then 2 x , 2 y , 2 z {\displaystyle 2x,2y,2z} are even by definition. If x + y = z {\displaystyle x+y=z} , then 2 x + 2 y = 2 ( x + y ) = 2 z {\displaystyle 2x+2y=2(x+y)=2z} , which is even; so summing two even numbers results in an even number.The ability to critically analyze an argument—to dissect structure and components, thesis and reasons—is essential. But so is the ability to be flexible and consider non-traditional alternatives and perspectives. These complementary functions are what allow for critical thinking to be a practice encompassing imagination and intuition in cooperation with traditional modes of deductive inquiry. [29] Functions [ edit ] Kompf, M., & Bond, R. (2001). Critical reflection in adult education. In T. Barer-Stein & M. Kompf(Eds.), The craft of teaching adults (pp.21–38). Toronto, ON: Irwin. Heyman, G D; Fu, G; Lee, K (2007). "Evaluating claims people make about themselves: The development of skepticism". Child Development. 78 (2): 367–375. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01003.x. PMC 2570105. PMID 17381778. Levitin, Daniel (2017). A Field Guide to Lies and Statistics. Viking. ISBN 978-0241239995. (a.k.a. Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era) Lilienfeld, Scott (2017). "Teaching Skepticism: How Early Can We Begin?". Skeptical Inquirer. 41 (5): 30–31. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018.

The list of core critical thinking skills includes observation, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and metacognition. According to Reynolds (2011), an individual or group engaged in a strong way of critical thinking gives due consideration to establish for instance: [35] According to a definition analysis by Kompf & Bond (2001), critical thinking involves problem solving, decision making, metacognition, [39] rationality, rational thinking, reasoning, knowledge, intelligence and also a moral component such as reflective thinking. Critical thinkers therefore need to have reached a level of maturity in their development, possess a certain attitude as well as a set of taught skills. From 2008, Assessment and Qualifications Alliance has also been offering an A-level Critical Thinking specification. [50] OCR exam board have also modified theirs for 2008. Many examinations for university entrance set by universities, on top of A-level examinations, also include a critical thinking component, such as the LNAT, the UKCAT, the BioMedical Admissions Test and the Thinking Skills Assessment. Critical thinking is a type of thinking pattern that requires people to be reflective, and pay attention to decision-making which guides their beliefs and actions. Critical thinking allows people to deduct with more logic, to process sophisticated information and look at various sides of an issue so they can produce more solid conclusions." [25]Although critical thinking could be defined in several different ways, there is a general agreement in its key component—the desire to reach for a satisfactory result, and this should be achieved by rational thinking and result-driven manner. Halpern thinks that critical thinking firstly involves learned abilities such as problem-solving, calculation and successful probability application. It also includes a tendency to engage the thinking process. In recent times, Stanovich believed that modern IQ testing could hardly measure the ability of critical thinking. [27] Paul, R (1982). "Teaching critical thinking in the strong sense: A focus on self-deception, world views and a dialectical mode of analysis". Informal Logic Newsletter. 4 (2): 2–7.

Facione, Peter A.; Sánchez, Carol A.; Facione, Noreen C.; Gainen, Joanne (1995). "The Disposition Toward Critical Thinking". The Journal of General Education. 44 (1): 1–25. ISSN 0021-3667. JSTOR 27797240. Freethought– Position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricismThe intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action." [18]