Critical Thinking Study Guide

Study Guide for Critical Thinking Lesson 1: Introduction to Critical Thinking Definition "Critical Thinking is the ability to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make well-reasoned decisions." Why Study Critical Thinking? 1\. "Critical thinking enables individuals to analyze informati...

Study Guide for Critical Thinking Lesson 1: Introduction to Critical Thinking Definition "Critical Thinking is the ability to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make well-reasoned decisions." Why Study Critical Thinking? 1\. "Critical thinking enables individuals to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make well-reasoned decisions." 2\. "Critical thinking improves language and presentation skills, allowing individuals to express themselves clearly and persuasively." 3\. "It encourages self-reflection, helping individuals understand their own beliefs and values, leading to personal growth." 4\. "Creative thinking drives innovation by encouraging individuals to think outside the box and come up with novel solutions to problems." 5\. "It is invaluable in solving complex problems by exploring unconventional solutions." 6\. "It helps individuals adapt to change and overcome challenges by envisioning new possibilities." 7\. "Cultivating creative thinking promotes personal growth and self-expression." Lesson 2: Cognitive Biases Definition of Bias "Bias is a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against something or someone." Types of Biases 1\. Anchoring Bias (Pre-conceived Bias) "It relies heavily on pre-existing information or the first information we receive no matter how unreliable it may be when making decisions." Example: "You are interested in buying a laptop and you surveyed one that costs 45,000 pesos. This amount now becomes your anchor, meaning, your point of comparison. Then you see a second one that costs 30,000 pesos -- you're likely to see the second laptop as cheap." 2\. Availability Heuristic Bias "We oftentimes make mental shortcuts that help us make fast, but sometimes incorrect, evaluation of the situation. We rely on information that is immediately available." 3\. Bandwagon Effect "People do or believe in something not because they actually do believe it but because that is what the rest of the world believes in; in other words, they follow the crowd without much forethought." 4\. Choice Supportive Bias "It is the tendency to exaggerate the positive features of something and downplay its negative features." 5\. Confirmation Bias (Stereotyping) "Confirmation Bias is the tendency to search for data that can confirm our beliefs, as opposed to looking for data that might challenge those beliefs." 6\. Ostrich Bias "The ostrich bias is the tendency to avoid dangerous or negative information by simply closing oneself off from this information, or 'sticking one's head in the sand' as an ostrich would." 7\. Outcome Bias "It is judging a decision based on the outcome -- rather than how exactly the decision was made in the moment." Lesson 3: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Definition of Reasoning "Reasoning in critical thinking is the process of using logic and evidence to evaluate information and make decisions. It's about systematically examining facts, analyzing arguments, identifying biases, and weighing evidence to come to well-informed conclusions." Types of Reasoning 1\. Inductive Reasoning "Inductive reasoning is a method of reasoning in which you draw general conclusions based on specific observations or evidence." Example: "This volcano has erupted about every 500 years for the last 1 million years. It last erupted 499 years ago. Conclusion: It will erupt again soon." 2\. Deductive Reasoning "Deductive reasoning is a logical process in which a conclusion is drawn from a set of premises that are generally assumed to be true." Example: "All plants with rainbow berries are poisonous. This plant has rainbow berries. Conclusion: This plant is poisonous." Making Inferences "An inference is a logical conclusion or deduction made based on available evidence, facts, and reasoning." "When we are able to understand information that is only implied and not stated, we improve our capacity to connect ideas and create a new level of knowledge." Lesson 4: Fallacies Definition of Fallacy "A fallacy is an erroneous reasoning or an incorrect argument." "As a rule, an argument is not considered fallacious unless it is plausible enough to appear to provide adequate evidence for its conclusion." Types of Fallacies Formal Fallacies "A formal fallacy is an error in logic that can be seen in the argument's form." 1\. Affirming the Consequent "If A, then B. B, therefore A." Example: "If it rains, the ground gets wet. The ground is wet. Therefore, it must have rained." 2\. Denying the Antecedent "If A, then B. Not A, therefore not B." Example: "If it's a dog, it has four legs. It's not a dog, so it must not have four legs." 3\. Fallacy of Four Terms (Quaternio Terminorum) "A categorical syllogism that has four terms." Informal Fallacies "An informal fallacy is committed when irrelevant psychological factors are allowed to distort the reasoning process." 1\. Argumentum Ad Hominem (Attack Against Man) "This fallacy is an attack on the character of the person rather than a challenge to the merit of his argument." 2\. Straw Man Fallacy "Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack." 3\. False Dilemma "Presenting only two choices when more exist." 4\. Post Hoc Fallacy "Assuming causation just because one event followed another." Study Tips (Direct from the Documents) 1\. "Be humble enough to seek out disagreements and don't be afraid of opposing viewpoints." 2\. "You can learn a lot from someone who disagrees with you." 3\. "Arguing and fighting are never good ways to expand your way of thinking, but debate is a great way to exercise your brain 'muscles'."