Critical Thinking Process: Exploring the 8 Essential Steps

Explore the 8 essential steps of the critical thinking process. Develop analytical skills, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.

Step 1: What is the problem?

The first step of the critical thinking process is to identify the problem. You should identify 'what is the problem,' or 'what is the challenge' or 'what is the difficulty of the situations.'

Step 2: Interpretation

Interpretation is crucial. It is an important step in critical thinking. Interpret the problem by asking basic questions like How, What, Why, When, Who. Interpretations give inferences that help in understanding the problems better.

Step 3: Analysis of the Problem

Analyze the problem based on the inferences you made. Analyze factors like 'how to handle it,' 'is there any hidden cause behind the problem,' 'why it occurred,' etc. Doing a thorough analysis is important.

Step 4: What to infer?

The fourth step is to analyze all the inferences made so far. Here, critical thinkers will use strategies, ideas, opinions, and discussions from the previous steps to come up with solutions and answers.

Step 5: Evaluation

The next process is evaluating or testing the solutions inferred and checking their credibility. Is this a solution, right? How good is it? Is it based on valid Facts? Will it cause any further implications? Is this solution flexible enough? Will it solve the problem permanently or temporarily? Etc.

Step 6: How to explain the process?

This step involves discussing how to put the solutions into action. Critical thinkers will be clear in explaining 'what to do' and 'how to do it' to solve the problems.

Step 7: Self-Regulation

Before you implement the solution, do self-regulation. Think again and see if you are doing the right thing or doing it based on any biases or emotions.

Step 8: What action steps do we need to take?

Once you are clear of all the above steps, start implementing the solution through actionable steps.