While the terminology can vary, it is generally agreed by experts in the Critical Thinking School that there are six core skills that one needs to master.

1. INTERPRETATION refers to the ability to understand and clearly and accurately explain the meaning and importance of data, details and decisions without personal bias or the undue influence of others.

2. ANALYSIS refers to the ability to identify the similarities and differences between factors relevant to a situation, having critically examined all pertinent aspects objectively.

3. EVALUATION refers to the ability to assess the credibility and dependability of assertions, arguments or claims made about a problem, circumstance or situation.

4. INFERENCE refers to the ability to identify and isolate those factors that are crucial to making a judgment and drawing a conclusion by weighing up the evidence and considering the alternatives.

5. EXPLANATION refers to the ability to present in an understandable way, the conclusion made about an issue using rational, persuasive argument and evidence to underpin one’s point of view.

6. SELF-REGULATION refers to the ability to discipline oneself in one’s thinking processes, applying self-correction, introspection in relation to the techniques being used to arrive at one’s conclusion about an issue.

TEN KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF CRITICAL THINKING

1. ACCURACY. The information a person is considering and evaluating must be accurate, factual, true and evidential.

2. CREDIBILITY. The data under discussion must be credible, believable, objective, consistent, justifiable and rational.

3. SPECIFIC. The statements made and the various arguments advanced should be specific, clear, precise and complete.

4. IMPARTIALITY. The information provided must be impartial, without prejudice, unbiased, neutral and free of strongly-held, personal beliefs.

5. RELEVANCE. The data used to make conclusions must be relevant and significant to the issue under consideration.

6. SUBSTANCE. The details relied upon to make a conclusion should be the result of broad, in-depth investigation, inquiry, research and all-encompassing study.

7. CONSISTENCY. The conclusion reached about an issue must be such that others assessing and evaluating similar data would arrive at a like judgment.

8. RELIABILITY. The evidence supporting a point of view being expressed must be reliable, dependable and trustworthy.

9. LOGICAL. The information presented in support of one’s argument must be logical, sequential, and progressive leading to the ultimate conclusion.

10. VERIFICATION. The data used to make a judgment or final conclusion, should be able to be easily verified, substantiated and validated.

21 CHARACTERISTICS OF A CRITICAL THINKER

Critical thinkers are people who:

• Seek to be well-informed about a broad range of subjects and issues
• Listen and look for the “why”, “what”, “when”, “who”, “where” and “how” factors in issues
• Are open-minded towards views that are different from or conflict with their own
• Are flexible and respectful when considering and discussing alternative opinions
• Know the importance of listening to other opinions especially when they do not agree
• Appraise the reasoning and views of others objectively and fairly
• Are self-confident in their own abilities to reason and advance alternative arguments
• Pursue a logical line of reasoning to get to the facts surrounding or underpinning an issue
• Trust in the processes of reasoned, logical inquiry and research
• Evaluate data and detail on their merit and the supportive and relevant evidence
• Test claims and assertions for appropriateness, application, accuracy and adequacy
• Weigh up and question what a proponent or author is claiming against other evidence
• Can transfer known detail to an unknown realm in a rational way
• Are conscious of bias on the part of a proponent and themselves as respondents
• Willing to confront their own biases, beliefs and prejudices with openness
• Use discretion in suspending, making, delaying or altering judgments
• Readily reconsider and revise well-formed views when necessary
• Seek a logical conclusion based on evidence - not on assumption
• Are alert to opportunities where critical thinking techniques need to be applied
• Have a respect for the different views and attitudes of others
• Have a cultural consciousness
• Have an appreciation of the expertise of others
• Are always willing to learn from others
• Think about what they are thinking – meta-cognition.

Assess yourself! Are you a critical thinker? Which of the above 21 attributes do you apply?

(The author Keith W. Wright is a former politician, an educator and the director of the Australian International Language Academy. E-mail questions to youth@mb.com.ph).