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When examining the vast literature on critical thinking, various definitions of critical thinking emerge. Here are some samples:

• "Critical Thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action" (Scriven, 1996).
  
• "Critical Thinking is the intentional application of rational, higher order thinking skills, such as analysis, synthesis, problem recognition and problem solving, inference, and evaluation" (Angelo, 1995, p. 6).
  
• "Critical Thinking is thinking that assesses itself" (Center for Critical Thinking, 1996b).
  
• "Critical Thinking is the ability to think about one's thinking in such a way as 1. To recognize its strengths and weaknesses and, as a result, 2. To recast the thinking in improved form" (Center for Critical Thinking, 1996c).
  
• "Critical Thinking... means making reasoned judgments" (Beyer p. 8). Basically, Beyer sees critical thinking as using criteria to judge the quality of something, from cooking to a conclusion of a research paper. In essence, critical thinking is a disciplined manner of thought that a person uses to assess the validity of something (statements, news stories, arguments, research, etc.).

Characteristics of Critical Thinking

Wade (1995) identifies 8 characteristics of critical thinking. Critical thinking involves

• asking questions,

• defining a problem,

• examining evidence,

• analyzing assumptions and biases,

• avoiding emotional reasoning,

• avoiding oversimplification,

• considering other interpretations, and

• tolerating ambiguity.

Dealing with ambiguity is also seen by Strohm & Baukus (1995) as an essential part of critical thinking, "Ambiguity and doubt serve a critical-thinking function and are a necessary and even a productive part of the process" (p. 56).

Critical thinkers are skeptical, open-minded, value fair-mindedness, respect evidence and reasoning, respect clarity and precision, look at different points of view, and will change positions when reason leads them to do so.

A certain criteria must be met for something to be judged as believable. Although the argument can be made that each subject area has different criteria, some standards apply to all subjects. "... an assertion must... be based on relevant, accurate facts; based on credible sources; precise; unbiased; free from logical fallacies; logically consistent; and strongly reasoned" (p. 12).

Critical thinking involves identifying, evaluating, and constructing arguments.

The ability to infer a conclusion from one or multiple premises. To do so requires examining logical relationships among statements or data.

The way one views the world, which shapes one's construction of meaning. In a search for understanding, critical thinkers view phenomena from many different points of view.