Critical Thinking and Decision Making
Critical thinking is one of the basic decisions making and problem-solving techniques. The ability to think systematically and rationally is a skill we need to groom ourselves for better decision making.
The intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, or communication, as a guide to belief and action is defined as “Critical Thinking”.
Critical thinking involves using a set of cognitive skills or strategies to consider various solutions to problems. One makes judgements on a course of action or what to believe and then pursues a final course of action through making a decision.
Linked to the process of critical thinking, Decision Making involves weighing potential rewards and consequences. Poor decision making may occur with a lack of understanding about factors within one’s control or understanding about the decision itself, a confused or underdeveloped understanding of one’s values, a lack of information to weigh assumptions or the impact of a time constraint.
