In order to prevent misunderstandings, it is important that we be able to assess and evaluate the information we receive, that we reason correctly and make good judgments. This is what is meant by the term "critical reasoning". You are not necessarily criticizing someone, when you use critical reasoning. The term implies that you are thinking critically about the information you receive. Critical reasoning helps you cope better with daily life. It also helps you get a better insight into things and to be better informed. You can improve your critical reasoning by:
Edit Steps
- 1Identify the problem. Before you can deal with a problem,you need to acknowledge that there is a problem and define what the problem is.
- 2Keep an open mind. Being open minded simply means that you do not just accept an opinion or view as being true or useful. Try to look for other alternatives or possibilities in the middle ( by assuming a middle ground ). Avoid looking at things as either right or wrong, good or bad, true or false etc. Such extremes are seldom applicable.
- 3Remember the difference between language and reality. Language is merely a representation of what we perceive as our reality. It may not necessarily be the reality. One should be able to see beyond the words of what is spoken. We should be able to see the reality of things as clearly as possible and remember that language will represent these things in many different ways.
- 4Obtain relevant information. In order to make the correct decisions, you will need as much information as possible about the concerning issues. Scan the different websites or seek advice from reliable sources.
- 5Be empathic. This simply means putting yourself in the other persons shoes. Listen to all sides of the story. This encourages people to say what they want to say and facilitates communication.
- 6Avoid over-generalizations. An over-generalization means, arriving at any conclusion based on very little evidence.
- 7Use open-ended questions. If ask questions in a certain way, you may only get "Yes" or "No" answers. If you phrase questions differently, you are likely to get more information, which may be more helpful in helping you decide on the final outcome.
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Edit Sources and Citations
- Grieve,K., Deventer,V., Mojapelo-Batka,M. (2005). A-Z of Psychology. Lansdowne. South Africa. Juta & Co Ltd.
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Last edited:
April 18, 2011 by TeddyBearLuver
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Recent edits by: PianoStar77, Iqbal Osman (see all)
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