Describe the five steps of the critical thinking process and offer examples of each

Question

Please provide the best answer for the best statement.

Answer 1

Answer: The first step of the critical thinking process is to identify the assertion or action. For example, one could text his or her romantic partner late one evening and not receive a reply straightaway. Both non-critical thinkers and critical thinkers can understand this action, but a non-critical thinker might jump to conclusions right away, like the partner isn’t responding because he or she is cheating. In the second step, once an action has been identified, your interpretations and beliefs can be evaluated. Critical thinkers do this by looking for evidence. With the messaging example, a critical thinker would ask about what evidence there is that his or her partner is cheating, if any.In the third step, once the evidence is gathered, the critical thinker would see whether the bulk of the evidence supports the assertion or action. The critical thinker would question whether this interpretation is supported by sufficient evidence and experience. For example, has his or her partner given any reason to doubt his or her fidelity in the past? In the fourth step, the critical thinker would think through other conclusions. He or shewould explore other possibilities—the partner’s phone died, he or she is studying for a test—instead of jumping on one idea without sufficient evidence. Finally, in the fifth step, the critical thinker would keep an open mind and evaluate information as it is presented. Even if the critical thinker had settled on an interpretation after this process, new information could alter that perspective. For example, no response from a partner might be a fluke that night, but if it becomes a pattern, a critical thinker might reevaluate his or her thought process.