Critical Thinking Application
Paul & Elder (2006) "Critical thinking is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better. It involves three interwoven phases: it analyzes thinking, 1 it evaluates thinking, 2 it improves thinking3 (chapter 1, p 1)." That is a pretty confusing statement, to put in simpler terms; Critical thinking is a way of analyzing thought processes to ensure that judgments, arguments, and decisions are valid and based on solid facts, not personal biases and speculation. A clearer definition comes from McWhorter (1992) states, "Critical thinking is the careful and deliberate evaluation of ideas or information for the purpose of making a judgment about their worth or value: It is the ability to construct and evaluate arguments."
As a Support Enforcement Specialist critical thinking skills were a necessity; especially when case reviews came up on cases. Working for the Department of Child Support Enforcement my job required me to manage cases where a child support order was in place. Eventually as children grew past the age of 18 or other situations came to change mitigating factors of their case, a custodial or noncustodial parent could request a review of their case to see if support would decrease or increase.
I had to use critical thinking skills to sift through all the information, financial statements, and circumstances surrounding each parents request for a review. Calculations based on additional children, change in employment, leaving children, change in pay, retirement, insurance, child care costs, and deaths in the family all affected the amount of support. By careful examination of all the facts, and listening to each parent as well as studying the calculations necessary to compute the new order of support, is how I based my decisions on how to proceed and what the final order of support would be.
The following eight guidelines written by Cuesta College (2003) stated below:
- Develop evidence to support views
- Analyze situations carefully
- Discuss subjects in an organized way
- Predict the consequences of actions
- Weigh alternatives
- Generate and organize ideas
- Form and apply concepts
- Design systematic plans of action
Show the process in which I followed to complete the review.
Carefully analyzing the facts and information to conclude in valid good decisions is all part of the critical thinking process. Cuesta College (2003) states, "In the settings of college, the workplace, and the community the ability to work with other people in group projects is an increasingly important skill to develop. As adults, we are often required to be able to critically read and evaluate written and oral communication, as well as to communicate our own ideas in a respectful and effective manner (p. 1.)" Furthermore, Cuesta College (2003) also states, "As a critical thinker you should critically evaluate the arguments of others, but this also means you have the responsibility of constructing your own arguments so they are unbiased and supported with credible evidence (p 1)."
Keeping in mind that snap judgments can contribute to biases one must be aware of these thought processes and realize the complications these judgments can have on decision making. Being mindful of one's emotions, past experiences, and personal beliefs will allow him/her to be conscience of those indicators which could result in bad decisions and take steps to think critically weighing all facts before making said decisions. As Cuesta College (2003) states; "Another responsibility one has as a critical thinker is to take responsibility for one's actions. Everyone makes mistakes and it is a responsible person who acknowledges his/her error and learns from it." And that; "A person who accepts responsibility for her/his arguments and actions builds integrity in the eyes of others, and a person with integrity is often respected and listened to (p 1)."
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