What is ‘Critical Thinking’ Anyway?

Beth Harrison, Ph.D., Director, University Learning Center

Here’s my take on it: Critical thinking is (1) the skills that allow us to question, examine, and draw reasoned conclusions about everything that comes our way; and (2) the habit of mind or of heart that means we will use those skills constantly. Why do we care? Because teaching students to be critical thinkers is a stated goal for nearly every course at the university. Because making conscious and thoughtful—rather than automatic or unexamined—decisions will help us lead the kinds of lives we want. And because the opportunity to learn to think for themselves should be a strong motivator for our students.

A large part of critical thinking is the ability to question. Why? Why not? Who? Who’s left out? What does it mean? What’s the evidence? Is it valid? What does it mean to me? This kind of questioning and the search for answers is the stuff of active learning that leads to deep engagement with the subject matter and deep learning that lasts. Thoughtful analysis of those answers becomes the basis for informed decision-making in our everyday lives.

Another part of critical thinking is the ability to listen carefully and respectfully to what others are saying, to understand not just what something means to me, but what it means to someone else and how that relates to me. Life and learning are social enterprises, and the ability to effectively listen to and work with other people is central to finding fulfillment in both.

To me, the most important result of having strong critical thinking skills is the attitude of responsibility that it inspires in critical thinkers. If I have questioned and sought answers and listened and articulated what something means to me, then I am likely to make my decision or take my stance with confidence. And I am likely to take responsibility for the consequences of my decision: to watch and listen for repercussions, to examine them critically, to learn from my experience. That, I think, will make the world a better place for us all.

A college degree doesn’t get someone a good job because it’s a valuable piece of paper. It gets someone a good job because it signals to an employer that this person, by virtue of being a college graduate, has learned certain valuable skills—in today’s world, strong critical thinking or problem-solving skills are at the top of many employers’ list of what to look for in their employees. Surprisingly few college graduates end up working in fields directly related to their college majors. If they have learned how to think critically during their college years, graduates are prepared to take up whatever opportunities present themselves.