Critical Thinking

Question 1

Summarize the definition of critical thinking.

Answer 1

Critical thinking is the process of thinking carefully about a subject or idea, without allowing feelings or opinions to affect you

Question 2

Discuss methods for evaluating information

Answer 2

Statement vs Argument: A statement is a claim, an argument proposes a reason for a given conclusion

Fact vs Opinion: fact is something true and can be proven, opinion is a belief that a person has formed

Objective claim vs subjective claim: an objective is factually true or false regardless of what anyone thinks, a subjective is factually true depending on what people think to be true

Question 3

Explain the 9 intellectual standards used in assessing one’s thinking (CAP, RBF, LSD)

Answer 3

-Clarity: if a statement is unclear, you cannot determine the accuracy or relevance
-Accuracy: addresses the validity and truthfulness of the information
-Precision: helps refine information by adding necessary details

-Relevance: evaluates what is most related to the issue at hand
-Depth: addresses the complexities and deeper layers of an issue
-Fairness: acts as a “gut check” to avoid personal interests, ego, and unjustified assumptions

-Logic: ensures that thoughts are mutually supporting and make sense in combination
-Significance: identifies the most important pieces of an argument or issue
-Breadth: addresses various interpretations and other points of view

Question 4

Explain cognitive domain operations and the relationship to disinformation

Answer 4

Cognitive Domain Operations: take people’s will, belief, thinking, and psychology as direct combat targets, and seek to affect decision-making and actions by changing the opponent’s cognition

Persuasion becomes easier

Question 5

Describe the elements of reasoning that are used in the critical thinking process (three eyed duck)

Answer 5

-Purpose: The objective or goal of your thinking
-Point of View: What is the point of view? Would it be looked at differently?

-Implications: What might be the outcome? On what? For whom?
-Information: is it accurate, fair, clear? Do we need more?
-Inferences: What am I inferring here that is unstated? Is it valid?

-Question: Is this the right question?
-Assumptions: What beliefs and values influence my thinking? Are they balanced and fair?
-Concepts: What concepts and theories am I relying on? Do others accept them as well?

Question 6

What is system 1 thinking?

Answer 6

Fast, instinctive, emotional, unconscious, utilizes pattern recognition

Question 7

What is system 2 thinking?

Answer 7

slow, deliberate, logical, conscious, discerns new patterns

Question 8

what are stereotypes?

Answer 8

results from not slowing down our thinking, end in snap judgements, oversimplifications, prohibit critical thinking

Question 9

what is halo effect?

Answer 9

interpreting a single trait or event to define an entire person or situation

Question 10

What is belief perseverance(cognitive bias)?

Answer 10

beliefs shape our interactions-we each have our own biases, human tendency to favor our own perspective

Question 11

What is deflection

Answer 11

answering the wrong question, steers the conversation away from the initial intent, lack of focus for the discussion makes critical thinking difficult