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Exceptional
Critical
Thinking
Critical
Thinking
Toolkit
7827 Updated 11.2014
Table of Contents
Pre-Work Assignment.....................................................................................................................................................1
The ContextThinkAct (CTA) Process............................................................................................................................2
ThinkingRED Model.......................................................................................................................................................3
Recognizing AssumptionsPsychological Factors..........................................................................................................4
Evaluating Weak ArgumentsCommon Patterns..........................................................................................................5
Drawing ConclusionsPsychological Factors..................................................................................................................6
The Seven Thinking Styles...............................................................................................................................................7
Integrating RED Skills and Thinking Styles....................................................................................................................8
Applying Your Thinking Styles and the RED Model to a Real Work Situation............................................................9
RED Model.....................................................................................................................................................................10
Pre-Work Assignment
My Thinking Styles Online Assessment
Instructions: In preparation for the 3 Steps to Exceptional Critical Thinking course, please take 20 minutes to
complete the My Thinking Styles online assessment. Make sure you download the Development Report results
and either print it or have it available during the course.
(The link to this online assessment was previously e-mailed to you. If you have not completed this assessment yet,
please do so NOW. You will need the results from this assessment during this course).
CONTEXT:
Timeframe
People/Personalities
Latitude for Change
THINK:
Short- or long-term solution
Options
Impact
ACT:
What type of action
Who can help
Whom and how to persuade
*Copyright 2009 NCS Pearson, Inc. Adapted and reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.
ThinkingRED Model*
We will concentrate on the thinking component of the CTA process. We will break the thinking steps into an
additional three parts: The RED Model of critical thinking.
There are three types of mental activity associated with critical thinking: Recognizing Assumptions; Evaluating
Arguments, and Drawing Conclusions.
*Copyright 2009 NCS Pearson, Inc. Adapted and reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. Recognizing AssumptionsPsychological
Factors.
There are certain psychological factors that create biases and cloud our ability to recognize assumptions. Below are
three of the most common psychological factors.
ATMOSPHERIC EFFECT
ATMOSPHERIC EFFECT
BELIEF BIAS
Description
Pre-existing beliefs interfere with your
ability to think critically. You imagine
data that is not there and draw a
false conclusion.
CONFIRMATION BIAS
Description
Looking only at evidence that supports
a conclusion you want to reach.
BELIEF BIAS
Keep in Mind
Check your reaction. Ask yourself if
there is something else influencing
your response in a certain direction
and if anything seems oddly out of sync.
CONFIRMATION BIAS
Keep in Mind
GAMBLERS FALLACY
Description
GAMBLERS FALLACY
Keep in Mind
Bias
Belief Bias
Description
Pre-existing beliefs interfere with your
ability to think critically. You imagine
data that is not there and draw a false
conclusion.
Keep In Mind
Check your reaction. Ask yourself if
there is something else influencing
your response in a certain direction
and if anything seems oddly out of
sync.
Gamblers
Fallacy
Ad Hoc
Reasoning
PATTERN 6
Circular
Reasoning
PATTERN 5
Description
of Behavior
Description
of Behavior
An ad hoc is an attempt to
persuade you at any cost. No
matter what objection you bring
up, the other person will find an
explanation to invalidate the
objection. (Note: In order for a
conclusion to be true, there must
be some circumstance under which
it could be false; otherwise, there is
no way of telling the different
between true/false. This is the
reason an ad hoc is a weak
argument.)
What to Watch
out For
What to Watch
out For
RED
HERRING
PATTERN
Description
of Behavior
This is a diversionary tactic
that is meant to distract you
from the key issue at hand.
Someone will use this when
they cannot really address
the issue at hand.
What to Watch
out For
7827_LXL_006
Evaluating
Weak
Arguments
Description
Keep In Mind
Ad Hoc
Reasoning
Circular
Reasoning
Red Herring
TRUSTING IN AN INSUFFICIENT
SAMPLE SIZE
Description
OVERRELIAN
OVERRELIANCE
AN
ANCE
NCE ON
ON PERSONAL
PERS
PE
RSON
RS
ONAL
ON
AL
EXPERIENCE AS EVIDENCE
Description
ENTRAPMENT
Description
Bias
TRUSTING IN AN INSUFFICIENT
SAMPLE SIZE
Keep in Mind
OVERRELIANCE
OVER
OVER
OV
ERR
RRELI
RELI
RE
LLIAN
AANC
AN
NCE
CE ON
ON PERSONAL
PERSO
EXPERIENCE AS EVIDENCE
Keep in Mind
ENTRAPMENT
Keep in Mind
ENTRAPMENT
Check your reaction by doing a
cost/benefit analysis about
proceeding with the project.
Description
Keep In Mind
Opinions are just that and even
though the individuals with the
opinions may be very vocal, it still
doesnt mean theyre right. Gather
a sufficient quantity of data and get
fair representation before making a
business decision.
Overreliance
on Personal
Experience
Entrapment
Thinking Style
Timely
Analytical
Inquisitive
Truth-Seeking
Open-Minded
Systematic
Insightful
Snapshot
RED Model*
To be an effective critical thinker, consider the context in which your critical thinking takes place and continually
look ahead to what action you need to take.
Critical thinking, perhaps more than any other business skill set, can make the difference between success and
failure.
The skills utilized in the RED Model are the 3 Steps to Exceptional Critical Thinking that we focused on during this
course.
*Copyright 2009 NCS Pearson, Inc. Adapted and reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.
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