Rural Development
Research Platform

Systems Thinking Vocabulary

Critical Thinking

The skill and propensity to engage in an activity with reflective scepticism (McPeck, 1981)

Categories: Methodology, Systems Thinking

Abstract
Critical thinking is the 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. (Edward M. Glaser)

In every domain of human thought, and within every use of reasoning within any domain, it is now possible to question:

ends and objectives,
the status and wording of questions,
the sources of information and fact,
the method and quality of information collection,
the mode of judgment and reasoning used,
the concepts that make that reasoning possible,
the assumptions that underlie concepts in use,
the implications that follow from their use, and
the point of view or frame of reference within which reasoning takes place.

In other words, questioning that focuses on these fundamentals of thought and reasoning are now baseline in critical thinking. (Richard Paul, Linda Elder, and Ted Bartell)

Acknowledgement

References

Edward M. Glaser. “Defining Critical Thinking”. The International Center for the Assessment of Higher Order Thinking (ICAT, US)/Critical Thinking Community. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
Edward M. Glaser, An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking, Teacher’s College, Columbia University, 1941
Scriven, Michael; Paul, Richard (1987). “Critical Thinking as Defined by the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking”
Nieto, Ana M.; Saiz, Carlos (2010). “Critical Thinking: A Question of Aptitude and Attitude?”. Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines.
California Teacher Preparation for Instruction in Critical Thinking: Research Findings and Policy Recommendations: State of California, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Sacramento, CA, March 1997. Principal authors: Richard Paul, Linda Elder, and Ted Bartell

Acknowledgement

Concept Coordinates

Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments in order to form a judgment by the application of rational, skeptical, and unbiased analyses and evaluations. (Edward M. Glaser)

The 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. (Scriven, Michael; Paul, Richard)

Systems Thinking Vocabulary

All
FILL
Living Labs
Methodology
Policy Labs
Systems Thinking

Abstraction laddering

Agile Methodology

Analytical Problem-Solving Approach – FEMA

ASQ Four-Step Model

Black-White Game Method

CIRCLES framework

Collaborative intelligence

Collaborative Learning

Collective Behavior

Collective wisdom

Community of practice

Concept map

Creative Problem-Solving Model – Mindtools

Creativity Dice