Step by Step guide to develop critical thinking skills

The term Critical thinking was coined by an American philosopher John Dewey in 1910. He most commonly called it “reflective thinking”. According to John “active, persistence and carefull consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the ground that support it, and the further conclusions to which it tends.”

Steps to develop Critical thinking:

1. Identify the problem or Question
2. Gather data, opinions and arguments
3. Analysing the data
4. Picking out the assumptions
5. Creating significance
6. Making a conclusion
7. Publish

1.   Identifying the problem:

The first thing is to find out is, if there a problem existing. If yes, then what were the reasons behind that problem. In this case sometimes you will find out that no actual problem is existing but only a misconception so you have to look into the actual damage done by that misconception to the society. At this point you have to put yourself into the question mode effected by any idea, war or conflicts that make you uncomfortable and unstable.

2. Gathering Data, Opinions and Arguments:

After determining the problem, a keen observation is needed to analyse the reasons behind the problem or a misconception. At this stage you have to look the problem from every possible angle and every possible perspective. To get the most precise analysis of the problem you sometimes have to gather around with the people of different age groups to have their opinions or sometimes you alone can gather some opinions and argument by looking and visualizing the problem from different angles and different perspective.

3. Analyzing the Data:

After gathering the data, information, opinions or arguments by yourself or by the help of the society. Here you will have to find out that the problem you found is actually solvable? Or it is just perceived? You sometime may also make a bias or an unfavorable point of view that needs to be expanded or can say broadened.

4. Picking Out the Assumptions:

There are many possible ways to solve a problem. At this point you have to prepare a list of all the possible ways that you find will be useful in solving the problem. This list will be prepared by the data, information, opinion and arguments which you have gathered from your self-evaluation or from the society you have been through.

5. Creating Significance:

At this point you have to find out the most important part of the problem. You have to check whether the problem you are looking on is unbiased or not. You have to check all the opinions, assumptions and arguments that you draw by yourself or by analyzing the surroundings are relevant to the problem you are trying to solve. At this stage you also have to through the valuation of the assumptions that you have drawn from the opinions and arguments, gathered after finding the problem.

6. Making a Conclusion

At this stage you will have a list of all possible assumptions from where you can find a viable solution to the problem. Here one thing you have to remember that there will always a different solution for the different situation and it does not matter if the problem is same all the solutions will depend on the situation for which you are finding the solution. While making any significance you have to take much time to determine the best possible solution to tackle the problem in that particular situation. Sometimes only one solution can become the answer to the problem or sometimes more than one solution will give you the answer to problem, depending on the situation.

7. Publish

Once you are all done with the trial of the best possible solution to your problem, Implement your solution. Every problem comes with the solution, like if it is to accept the situation or to move on. Instead of taking problems or challenges as a burden, we can see it as an opportunity to enhance our thinking and problem-solving skills in a creative manner. Thinking critically will not only help us in handling the upcoming challenges skillfully, it also helps us to increase our perspective to view a vast possible canvas to draw our opinions and assumptions.

Submitted By: Paarth Saarthi | Aparajita
(PGDM Batch 2019-21)