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How to Use Critical Thinking In Sports

How to Use Critical Thinking In Sports

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The ability to know how to respond to your opponent in the moment comes down to your ability to make cognitive decisions that your body has to follow.we usually hear the term “critical thinking skills” in the context of work and education. but critical thinking skills can help us in every aspect of our life.every athlete knows that sport is not a purely physical activity. the mental components of sport range from resilience, motivation, and passion, to strategy, discipline, and wit.like any athletic skill, critical thinking requires practice..

Imagine you’re in the final moments of a game, and it’s a nail biter. Your team is barely up, and the next few plays will determine the outcome of the game. From the looks of things, those final few plays are going to come through you to determine the outcome of the game. Whether you’re a shortstop, a defensive back, a midfielder, or a hitter, the ability to know how to respond to your opponent in the moment comes down to your ability to make cognitive decisions that your body has to follow. Said another way, succeeding in high pressure situations starts with critical thinking skills. 

What are critical thinking skills? ‍

We usually hear the term “critical thinking skills” in the context of work and education. But critical thinking skills can help us in every aspect of our life, not just in the workplace or classroom. With the right knowledge, critical thinking skills can enhance your athletic performance and take your game to the next level.

So, what are critical thinking skills? According to the Foundation for Critical Thinking , “Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically.” Essentially, critical thinking is the ability to skillfully seek out information, process it, and then use it to guide belief and action.

Why is critical thinking important for athletes? ‍

Every athlete knows that sport is not a purely physical activity. The mental components of sport range from resilience, motivation, and passion, to strategy, discipline, and wit. And while hard work can get you far, it is critical thinking that will carry you over the finish line. 

When athletes think critically, they can accurately evaluate their past and present performance, make decisions that support their athletic development, communicate more effectively with teammates and coaches, and maintain curiosity about the game that keeps them striving for excellence. At the elite level, these skills are what differentiate the good athletes from the great athletes.

‍ Developing your athletic skills through critical thinking: ‍

Christopher Dwyer, PhD, has broken down critical thinking into three main components: analysis, evaluation, and inference. If you want to use critical thinking to enhance your athletic performance, developing these three skills is a good place to start. Let’s take a look at what each of these components involves.

  • Analysis is the examination of the structure of something, often of an argument. In sport, we can use performance analysis to gather objective information about the events (or structure) of a previous game, race, or match. This can involve collecting observational data from video records, for example, or it can be achieved through reflection, meaning that athletes and coaches can draw on their memories for information about what happened. This might include noting which plays were executed, how many shots scored, how many missed, the time each lap took to complete, or which skills or movements were relied upon the most. Once we have the data, it’s time to evaluate it.
  • Evaluation is the systematic judgment of data- the process of deciding its worth and significance. This means looking at the information that we’ve gathered and deciding what it means. If a team relies heavily on a certain play, and that play rarely results in a goal, is that play serving the team? Or if they’re having difficulty executing a play which theoretically should work, where are they going wrong? Is the issue one of coaching, or player error? If a team consistently wins at home, but struggles in away games, what does that mean? Perhaps we have data which tells us that, overall, players sleep less prior to away games. After the data has been evaluated, the next step is to make inferences about those evaluations.
  • Inference is the process of forming conclusions based on a body of evidence, and it allows athletes and coaches to seek solutions based on those conclusions. If we use the example of the team whose players sleep poorly before away games, and which loses more often when they play away than when they play at home, it’s possible to infer that travel disrupts their sleep, resulting in worse athletic performance. At this point, coaches and players can use this information to make decisions about how they manage travel, and look for solutions. Perhaps they can arrive a day earlier, leaving more time to adjust. Maybe they could use a sports psychologist to brainstorm strategies for helping the team get more rest. Whatever they choose, they will be one step closer to winning more games. Through this example, we can see how the process of thinking critically leads directly to solutions that improve performance.

‍ Critical Thinking Exercises: ‍

Like any athletic skill, critical thinking requires practice. Here, we’ll look at some common critical thinking exercises that you can adapt for use in sport.

  • Reading Exercise : Take a magazine and choose a few articles that interest you. After reading each one, make a list of the key facts, ideas, and concepts in the article. Look at what you’ve noted for each article, and search for links between them. Can you draw any conclusions about the opinions of the authors and the publication? Adaptation: Do this exercise with a sports publication. Seek out articles that offer detailed analyses of various teams. Look for links between action and performance. Try to evaluate the opinions of commentators. Do you agree with their assessments? Why or why not? Form your own opinion about why a team or athlete is performing the way they are.
  • Tell it to an alien : No, this doesn’t involve tinfoil hats. Choose 5-10 theories that you find interesting. Then, put on your acting cap, because you’re going to play two roles- yourself, and the space alien. Start by explaining one of the theories to the alien, keeping in mind that the alien knows nothing about earth. Then, stepping into the alien’s role, respond to yourself with a question, trying to force yourself to think about things you may not have previously considered. Repeat this back and forth until you feel that you’ve explored the topic in detail. Adaptation: Simply choose topics and theories relevant to your sport! For example, try explaining a complex strategy to the alien, pushing yourself to explore how and why that strategy works, and what happens when it fails. This way you’ll be in a better position to successfully use and execute that strategy.
  • Writing exercise : Keep a detailed log of your training and competitions. Consider the decisions you made and how they resulted in success or failure. Look for links you may not have considered between actions and results. Track how practicing certain things leads to improved outcomes. Look for trends in your life outside sport that may have affected your performance.

Developing critical thinking skills with your athletes: ‍

As a coach, there are several ways to bolster critical thinking in your athletes. Here are a few strategies that you can start to use immediately.

  • Communicate : Focus on improving communication between teammates, as well as between team members and coaching staff. Working together effectively to find solutions increases team cohesion, and helps to get everyone’s heads in the game.
  • Reflect : Look back on games and practices together with your athletes. Ask them to think about what happened before you jump in with your own theories. Help them accurately reflect on their performance by engaging them with critical questions.
  • Feedback : Practice supportive feedback based on curiosity. When you give them instructions, ask them to be curious about why you’re doing so, and how those instructions will help them. Ask them for their own thoughts on how they can improve, and engage with them in self-reflection, offering direction when they get stuck.

Related Articles:

  • Mentality is Everything
  • How to Set Goals in Sports
  • Why Focusing on Process Over Outcome Matters
  • Powerful Ways to Master Failure

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Critical Thinking in Sport

Meaning of critical thinking

Ennis defined critical thinking as “reasonable and reflective thinking that focuses on deciding what to believe to do” (Ennis 1987, p.10). Beyer views critical thinking as an evaluative skill that allows an individual to assess information in order to make a judgment on its validity, value, or accuracy. Both Ennis and Beyer claim that critical thinking also involves a systematic process of approaching, evaluating, and thinking through a problem or challenge.

Critical thinking is that the ability to think clearly and rationally regarding what to try or what to believe. It includes the flexibility to have interaction in reflective and freelance thinking. Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information. A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good at critical thinking. A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he knows, and he knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to inform himself. Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative or being critical of other people. Although critical thinking skills can be used in exposing fallacies and bad reasoning, critical thinking can also play an important role in cooperative reasoning and constructive tasks. Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve our theories, and strengthen arguments. We can use critical thinking to enhance work processes and improve social institutions. Some people believe that critical thinking hinders creativity because it requires following the rules of logic and rationality, but creativity may require violating rules. Critical thinking is quite compatible with “out of the box” thinking, challenging consensus and pursuing less popular approaches. If anything, critical thinking is an essential part of creativity because we need critical thinking to evaluate and enhance our creative ideas.

The way we think can be divided into three different levels of cognition. The first level is made up of basic thinking skills or functional skills that we develop with our parents’ interaction from the time of our birth to the time we start school. The second level of cognition is made up of procedural skills that we develop in school such as reading and writing. These skills are dependent of the efficient development of the functional skills. The final level of cognition is the conceptual level of thinking, where we combine ideas into concepts that gives us our beliefs about ourselves and the world. This level of cognition is directly impacted by the efficiency of the functional skills as well. Inefficiencies in the basic thinking skills impacts our effectiveness in every facet of life, including sports.

The importance of critical thinking

Critical thinking is a general thinking skill in the domain. Whatever we choose to do, the ability to think clearly and rationally is important. If you work in education, research, finance, management, or the legal profession, critical thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are not limited to a particular subject area. Being able to think well and systematically solve problems is an asset for any career. Critical thinking is very important for the new knowledge economy. Information and technology are the driving force behind the global knowledge economy. You have to be able to deal with changes quickly and effectively. The new economy places increasing demands on flexible intellectual skills and the ability to analyze information and integrate various sources of knowledge in problem solving. Good critical thinking promotes such thinking abilities and is very important in the rapidly changing workplace.

Critical thinking enhances the skills of language and presentation. Clear and systematic thinking can improve the way we express our ideas. Critical thinking also improves comprehension skills in learning how to analyze the logical structure of texts. The critical thinking promotes creativity. Developing a creative solution to a problem involves not only having new ideas. It must also be the case that the new ideas being generated are useful and relevant for the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in assessing new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary Critical thinking is crucial to self-reflection. We need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions in order to live a meaningful life and structure our lives accordingly. Critical thinking provides the tools for the self-evaluation process. Good critical thinking is the basis of science and democracy. Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and confirmation of theory. A liberal democracy’s proper functioning requires citizens who can think critically about social issues to inform their judgments about proper governance and overcome biases and prejudice.

CRITICAL THINKING IN SPORT

It is generally agreed that a very important part of the game is the mental part of any sporting activity. Good thinking skills help from just beginning to the professional level at any level of sport. At the college level, however, and especially at the professional level, it is even more important because the physical abilities between athletes are often very minor and it is the way athletes think and use good judgment that will make the biggest differences. In fact, the better your mental abilities are, the better your physical abilities. How you think can have a profound effect on maximizing your physical abilities at a very basic level.

Some of the basic thinking skills that have a direct impact on sports are form recognition, direction and orientation, classification and categorization, environmental acuity, field discrimination, analysis and synthesis, pattern recognition, abstract sequencing, motor integration, and others. If any of these skills are inefficient, it could have a big impact on the performance of an athlete. How well we recognize things, how well we process them, how well we strategize and how well we execute has everything to do with the efficiency or inefficiency of these cognitive basic or functional abilities. Critical thinking may be adapted to the physical domain in two ways. The first of these involves taking advantage of opportunities that are already present in the teaching area and the second involves making use of the various strategies available to us through critical thinlung. While there are many opportunities for students and athletes to apply the four broad areas of critical thinking to the psycho-motor domain, the challenge is learning to recognize when these opportunities become available. The teacher/coach must be able to recognize those situations in which students can apply critical thinking, assist those students/ athletes through the critical thinking process(es), and then must follow up on this process by asking the students questions that prompt critical thought.

Secondary teachers and coaches can also challenge their students/ athletes to think critically by providing opportunities for creative and independent problem solving. Opportunities exist in the sporting arena, such as allowing learners to think out a strategic plan or having them create a unique movement solution. Such strategies can be included in sport, fitness, and extra-curricular activities.

Critical thinking has a place in the psycho-motor domain. Physical education and sport environments can provide individuals with a supportive environment to learn how to think critically. The practical nature of physical activity allows the individual to apply a new strategy, attempt a new movement and evaluate the worth of the response almost immediately. Students can be challenged to produce unique solutions to movement problems, create new versions of a game, and think through issues related to fitness and health. However, both teachers / coaches and students must be able to recognize the opportunities available to apply and use critical thinking. But, as stated earlier, the challenge is to learn to recognize when these opportunities become available.

Regardless of the strategies taught or the activities involved, the teacher must be the facilitator of the critical thinking process. The teacher fosters the students ‘ ability to focus their attention on decisions that are necessary for skilled performance. Through this active role, the teacher will be able to assist the students in using critical thinking to achieve success in the areas of fitness and movement.

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Athletic success demands critical thinking skills

As you progress as an athlete you must be able to think through both positive and negative athletic outcomes without being hard on yourself. The development of critical thinking skills can mean the difference between staying with the sport you love or abandoning it altogether.

The Foundation For Critical Thinking describes critical thinking as “ the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information…”

A pretty heady explanation isn’t it. I blanked out after reading the first 2 lines myself and shortened the definition by 6 lines. Let’s further pair this definition down as the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment . This latter definition provided by the google search dictionary is a bit easier to consume for the purposes of this article.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy proposes that there are 11 steps to thinking critically and they are Observing, Feeling, Wondering, Imagining, Inferring , Knowledge , Experimenting, Consulting , Identifying and analyzing arguments, Judging and finally Deciding.

Instead of copying the definitions of these 11 steps lets pair them down to a shorter list of steps and apply them to the potential outcomes of training, events and or races. Doing so will help you the athlete understand how to use these steps and apply them to your own thought processes.

You might be asking yourself what does critical thinking have to do with athletic performance. It’s actually pretty simple. I want my athletes to graduate from hindsight thinking and become more active in developing positive thoughts when things don’t go to plan. In other words, I want to stop the woulda’, coulda’ shoulda’ mentality that plagues so many athletes.

My desire is to give you a simple set of steps to apply them to various athletic scenarios in an effort to help you think critically without being critical of yourself.

Ask Basic Questions The fore-mentioned 11 steps are simply about asking yourself questions. So let’s pair them down and set up some examples of basic questions after a workout or race. I like to work from a who , what , when , where , how and why – line of questioning. Not necessarily in this order.

What happened in the race that caused you to not do your best, finish higher or miss out on a higher podium spot?

How do you know this information? Are you guessing or are your thoughts based on facts? Such as I didn’t get the win because I was poorly positioned or I lacked skills or a level of fitness to make the race-winning move. As you are setting up these basic questions you need to determine if you are trying to prove, disprove or just critique your efforts.

“Always assess the situation before completing a task or taking action to resolve a conflict.”   ― Saaif Alam

When shouldn’t you apply critical thinking? I don’t think that there is necessarily a perfect time to turn on or off critical thinking but I would say that just before a race or event I become much more observational rather than critical. I have always thought of this as being in race mode. However, in training, I may very well apply critical thinking pre, intra and certainly post-workout. Especially if I am trying new training modalities.

“We may not yet know the right way to go, but we should at least stop going in the wrong direction.”  ― Stefan Molyneux

What are you overlooking or better yet what do you not know? Were there extenuating circumstances that you may have overlooked in the above scenarios. Were there race tactics being used that you didn’t see unfold? If you determine that you were just outraced due to a lack of skill, racecraft or fitness what are the limiters you need to work on. Is this an educated guess, wild guess or do you actually know what you are overlooking?

“It’s important to realize that sometimes the information you need is hidden behind the information available.”  ― Anne Elizabeth Moore

Question Your Assumptions In the previous paragraph, I am asking if you are applying an educated guess or a wild guess. Educated guesses are ones built out of experience whereas wild guesses are based on a desire to understand something that we have no prior experience in but are desperate to make sense of outcomes.

Another way to question yourself is why am I doing this? If we keep doing the same things to prepare, train and develop as an athlete but never get stronger, fitter or faster then it’s time to question your assumptions and evaluate beliefs about the “right way” to do what you have been doing.

How do you gain perspective? Try reordering your thoughts, results and or outcomes. When I was studying art I was told to quit drawing what I thought I saw and only draw what was there. This helped some but what really helped was when I was told to take the object or photo I was trying to draw and turn it upside down. This new perspective allowed me to see things more clearly. We can do the same thing as athletes not by looking at the performances of others but our current and past performances to find ways to continually improve or by restructuring our basic questions of outcomes.

“Before accepting your guess just based on how you feel, let’s admit we just don’t know and discover if it’s real.”  ― Joseph Raphael Becker

Are you ready to think and act like a scientist? When your performances aren’t living up to your expectations or the same training is no longer getting you where you want to be you must look elsewhere. In our art school example above you must work with what you see not with what you think you know.

Better yet where do you get the information you need? If you have been doing the same training repeatedly and the results are failing you look to peer-reviewed sports science studies, not blogs, not vlogs and not your training partners. Taking the time to understand your strengths and weakness by using your data and then looking for topics on ways to improve upon these weaknesses will help you immensely. However, when looking at studies make sure you find a few studies that have similar outcomes so that you are not wasting your time trying to put a one-off study into practice.

“When everything impossible had been eliminated and what remains is supernatural, then someone is lying.”  ― Isaac Asimov

Is your thinking sabotaging your confidence? The human brain is AMAZING but not perfect. Our brains can process more information than we can speak out loud or while reading quietly to ourselves. Our memories are fallible and when we add our own biases we can quickly misinterpret outcomes and our introspective self can become very negative. Cognitive biases are when our brains act too quickly and make intuitive judgments and jump to conclusions before taking the time to slow our thought processes down.

“You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it, and reach your own decisions.”  ― Napoleon Hill

Who can help? If you are at your wit’s end with trying to solve your performance shortcomings and your questions and experiments are not bringing about improvements then it’s time to call in reinforcements. This is where coaches come in. Coaching isn’t just about athletic performance we also help with the mental side of sports, or at least I do.

“Don’t complain if the issue is complicated if it weren’t complicated it would not be an issue.”  ― Amit Kalantri

In the end, it’s all about you. While research is always a helpful tool when trying to apply new ways of becoming fitter, faster and stronger it’s important to think for yourself. Just because research states to train a certain way it doesn’t mean you should blindly follow the guidance.

Until Next Time, Train Smarter Not Harder, Coach Rob

PPC Articles you may find helpful

Creating SMARTER Goals for cyclists
Writing a great race report

Supporting articles

Defining Critical Thinking https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

Critical Thinking https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/critical-thinking/

Want To Think Better? Avoid These 6 Cognitive Biases https://collegeinfogeek.com/avoid-cognitive-biases/

7 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills https://collegeinfogeek.com/improve-critical-thinking-skills/

Think Critically Before Thinking Critically https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psyched/202002/think-critically-thinking-critically

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Critical Thinking for Sports Students

Critical Thinking for Sports Students

  • Emily Ryall - University of Gloucestershire, UK
  • Description
ISBN: 9781844454570 Paperback Suggested Retail Price: $43.00 Bookstore Price: $34.40
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This book is SUCH a welcome addition to the sports studies literature. We are forever telling students to take a more critical approach to the literature and this text tells them precisely how to do that! An original and much needed text

Lecturer Brunel University

Critical Thinking for Sports Students is an excellent addition to the Active Learning in Sport series. This book ought to be adopted as a required text for students pursuing undergraduate studies in sport. Though this book is geared towards students, it is well worth reading by lecturers teaching on undergraduate and graduate courses and by the general reader interested in developing good thinking Sport, Ethics and Philosophy

This book takes readers step-by-step through learning how to read and think critically. It is a useful resource for undergraduate students to enable them to be more critical and evaluative in their research, and would be good revision for post-graduates.

It has been useful in design tasks for the students to undertake during the Reflective Practice module sessions. It has given them an understanding how to think and act on a deeper level of reflection

An ideal book for all sports students studying in Higher Education. It provides useful examples that relates to sports students and is a much needed text. Layout is easy to follow and is reader friendly. Good learning activities and further reading section for development

The ability to develop critical thinking is essential at MSc level and this book provides a refreshing approach on how to develop this core skill. I will be recommending it to my students.

This book provides a range of activities to engage students to develop their critical thinking. In addition, the use of health, fitness and sport provides a range of topics to engage the students.

An interesting book to aid students achieving a better understanding of their role in the sports environment

An interesting book to aid students understanding and becoming more active in the sports environment

This is a useful text book for the students who plan and carry out a research project for the first time in his or her academic career. Basic research concepts and theories are effectively introduced in a accessible manner.

Very good text for students to work with during their selection of study subject. This book was selected to be part of the oral exam and to use for e.g. argumentation.

You are here

Critical Thinking for Sports Students

Critical Thinking for Sports Students

  • Emily Ryall - University of Gloucestershire, UK
  • Description

This book is SUCH a welcome addition to the sports studies literature. We are forever telling students to take a more critical approach to the literature and this text tells them precisely how to do that! An original and much needed text

Lecturer Brunel University

Critical Thinking for Sports Students is an excellent addition to the Active Learning in Sport series. This book ought to be adopted as a required text for students pursuing undergraduate studies in sport. Though this book is geared towards students, it is well worth reading by lecturers teaching on undergraduate and graduate courses and by the general reader interested in developing good thinking Sport, Ethics and Philosophy

This book takes readers step-by-step through learning how to read and think critically. It is a useful resource for undergraduate students to enable them to be more critical and evaluative in their research, and would be good revision for post-graduates.

It has been useful in design tasks for the students to undertake during the Reflective Practice module sessions. It has given them an understanding how to think and act on a deeper level of reflection

An ideal book for all sports students studying in Higher Education. It provides useful examples that relates to sports students and is a much needed text. Layout is easy to follow and is reader friendly. Good learning activities and further reading section for development

The ability to develop critical thinking is essential at MSc level and this book provides a refreshing approach on how to develop this core skill. I will be recommending it to my students.

This book provides a range of activities to engage students to develop their critical thinking. In addition, the use of health, fitness and sport provides a range of topics to engage the students.

An interesting book to aid students achieving a better understanding of their role in the sports environment

An interesting book to aid students understanding and becoming more active in the sports environment

This is a useful text book for the students who plan and carry out a research project for the first time in his or her academic career. Basic research concepts and theories are effectively introduced in a accessible manner.

Very good text for students to work with during their selection of study subject. This book was selected to be part of the oral exam and to use for e.g. argumentation.

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examples of critical thinking in sports

Developing Critical Thinking Skills Like an Athlete

by Lemi-Ola Erinkitola | Oct 12, 2018 | Attention , Cognitive Skills , Confidence , Critical Thinking and 3rd-6th , Critical Thinking and Math , Critical Thinking and PreK-2nd , Critical Thinking and Reading , Critical Thinking Strategies , Focus , Growth Mindset , Test Preparation , Test Strategies | 0 comments

examples of critical thinking in sports

The process of developing critical thinking skills can seem frustrating for many children. It involves developing a deep understanding of the world, practicing often, and self-correcting. Just like a first time basketball player isn’t ready to play professionally, a newcomer to critical thinking strategies is only at the beginning of a continuous journey.

There are many parallels between the athlete and the critical thinker. Both are working to develop a skillset that will allow them to perform successfully, and both are following similar steps.

Step One: Understand the rules of the game

Before you can step onto the court it’s important to understand the rules of the game. If you’re a soccer player, the rules of basketball won’t help you. Similarly, you won’t get far if you start kicking the ball in the middle of a basketball game. Each game has its own set of guidelines, and before you can excel at the sport you have to understand that framework.

The same applies to the world of critical thinking skills. A critical thinker is constantly working to understand the rules that govern the world around them. Once this framework falls into place success becomes much more simple. When something new enters your child’s world, such as a new math concept, they first need to understand the principles that guide that concept. Then, as your child learns more math concepts, each one will build upon the last. Eventually the concepts become second nature, just like hand-eye coordination in a sport.

Step Two: Practice often

While knowing the rules is important, it won’t help much if that knowledge isn’t applied. Dedicated athletes spend hours practicing and developing their skills. They create a routine and, through that routine, build upon and refine their abilities.

Helping a child learn to think critically requires similar dedication. Practicing both inside and outside the classroom will help reinforce the foundation of understanding and further develop their skills. Over time, their ability to think critically will become more natural.

Step Three: Monitor and Evaluate

When you play a sport, you are constantly adjusting and tweaking your performance. Sometimes your coach may offer insight about how to improve. Other times, you are left to self-monitor. You learn to pay attention to your performance and identify areas of potential improvement.

Cognitive challenges are no different. Often, your child will have the benefit of a teacher or parent to guide and evaluate them. This is helpful, but the tool of self-monitoring is even more effective. As your child learns to evaluate their own performance they are able to adjust and adapt without outside help.

Step Four: Acknowledge Progressive Improvement

The first time an athlete touches a basketball, they probably won’t make every basket. Similarly, the first time your child tries to solve a new problem, they may not understand how to approach it.

That’s okay.

The development of critical thinking skills, like athletic skills, is an ongoing, incremental process. Improvement will happen over time, often gradually. With practice it becomes easier over time to solve new problems or make the basket.

The game is never over

Whether your child is a future basketball star, critical thinker extraordinaire, or both, they will never be finished refining their abilities. Just as athletes continue to train, critical thinkers are constantly practicing their skills.

Getting a head start and setting an early foundation is crucial, and will serve your child well into adulthood. The earlier they can begin practicing, the more time they will have to build and refine their critical thinking skills.

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Critical Thinking and Why Sport Management Students Should Study Sport in Society

In the summer, much of a professor’s focus is on improving the quality of material being offered to students. This involves participating in professional conferences such as the 2022 North American Society of Sport Management (NASSM) conference in Atlanta. There will be more than 500 sport management professors delivering presentations, sitting on panel discussions, and sharing ideas on sport management. Topics will include everything from sport governance, marketing, and leadership to presentations on how these topics can be taught more effectively.

The Sociology of Sport

It is interesting for students to note that when higher education first researched sport from the perspective of an academic discipline, it was not actually focused on sport management. Sport’s first academic focus regarding how it was organized and governed was from the perspective of the sociology of sport. The North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) was established long before NASSM.

For this reason, one of the first courses in our sport management program is Sport in Society. The goal of studying sport and its impact on society is to teach students how to think critically about what we are doing in this field. Students will learn to identify and understand what type of social problems and issues are associated with sport. Sport management students are asked to look beyond the statistics and see sport as a social phenomenon. As a result, as both sports fans and managers, can make informed choices about sport and its place in our lives.

The Social Phenomena of Sport

Sports are indeed social phenomena in how they relate to the social and cultural contexts in which we live. They provide stories and images used to explain and evaluate things that impact our life. Examples include the game-winning shot, the underdog overcoming odds, or the larger than life superstar athlete. They provide a window into what our culture and society is all about.

Sport trends are influenced by how sports are organized, commercialized and represented in the media. Trends are also impacted by emerging technologies and the demographic changes being seen in the United States. These are all areas that will need to be considered by sport managers to stay abreast of the latest trends.

The Future of Sport Management

Students creating new and alternative sports may be able to find new ways to view, play and be involved in sports. Regardless of your involvement or vantage point, much of how sport managers will be involved in sport is going to require visions of what sport and social life could and should be like. It’s will also require students to strategize how to turn their sport visions into reality.

Transforming sport is a challenging task. Sport managers may find that any effort to improve sport is often met with strong resistance. Many still believe in the sport myth that the way sports currently exist is the way they should be. People are often surprised that something as simple as changing sport to be safer for children will often meet resistance. Our Sport in Society class is designed to get students thinking of ways they can change sport for the better.

Interested in a bachelor’s degree in sport management?

Earn your online bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university and online education leader for more than 15 years. Our flexible, online format provides students the ability to complete coursework and assignments according to their schedule.

Complete the form to learn more about how EKU Online’s sport management program can help advance your career.

By Dr. Joel Cormier, coordinator of the online sport management program and an associate professor of Exercise and Sport Science at EKU. He is particularly interested in academic integrity in college sports, athlete development, and organizational effectiveness. His book, Hockey (Mid)night in Kentucky: a coach’s guide and memoire was recently published.

Note: This was adapted from Chapter 3, “Sport in Society” from the textbook The Management of Sport Organizations (Cognella Press) by Dr. Joel Cormier, Sport Management Program Coordinator, Eastern Kentucky University.

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Critical Thinking for Sports Students

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The capacity to think critically is essential for success in sport courses in higher education. Critical Thinking for Sports Students provides all those involved in the study of sport with the tools to assess, construct, and present arguments and to analyse and evaluate material. The emphasis is on the application of critical thinking in the form of written arguments, discussion, and negotiation. Throughout, the text and examples are presented within the context of sport, helping students to more easily apply their learning to their subject area.

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41+ Critical Thinking Examples (Definition + Practices)

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Critical thinking is an essential skill in our information-overloaded world, where figuring out what is fact and fiction has become increasingly challenging.

But why is critical thinking essential? Put, critical thinking empowers us to make better decisions, challenge and validate our beliefs and assumptions, and understand and interact with the world more effectively and meaningfully.

Critical thinking is like using your brain's "superpowers" to make smart choices. Whether it's picking the right insurance, deciding what to do in a job, or discussing topics in school, thinking deeply helps a lot. In the next parts, we'll share real-life examples of when this superpower comes in handy and give you some fun exercises to practice it.

Critical Thinking Process Outline

a woman thinking

Critical thinking means thinking clearly and fairly without letting personal feelings get in the way. It's like being a detective, trying to solve a mystery by using clues and thinking hard about them.

It isn't always easy to think critically, as it can take a pretty smart person to see some of the questions that aren't being answered in a certain situation. But, we can train our brains to think more like puzzle solvers, which can help develop our critical thinking skills.

Here's what it looks like step by step:

Spotting the Problem: It's like discovering a puzzle to solve. You see that there's something you need to figure out or decide.

Collecting Clues: Now, you need to gather information. Maybe you read about it, watch a video, talk to people, or do some research. It's like getting all the pieces to solve your puzzle.

Breaking It Down: This is where you look at all your clues and try to see how they fit together. You're asking questions like: Why did this happen? What could happen next?

Checking Your Clues: You want to make sure your information is good. This means seeing if what you found out is true and if you can trust where it came from.

Making a Guess: After looking at all your clues, you think about what they mean and come up with an answer. This answer is like your best guess based on what you know.

Explaining Your Thoughts: Now, you tell others how you solved the puzzle. You explain how you thought about it and how you answered. 

Checking Your Work: This is like looking back and seeing if you missed anything. Did you make any mistakes? Did you let any personal feelings get in the way? This step helps make sure your thinking is clear and fair.

And remember, you might sometimes need to go back and redo some steps if you discover something new. If you realize you missed an important clue, you might have to go back and collect more information.

Critical Thinking Methods

Just like doing push-ups or running helps our bodies get stronger, there are special exercises that help our brains think better. These brain workouts push us to think harder, look at things closely, and ask many questions.

It's not always about finding the "right" answer. Instead, it's about the journey of thinking and asking "why" or "how." Doing these exercises often helps us become better thinkers and makes us curious to know more about the world.

Now, let's look at some brain workouts to help us think better:

1. "What If" Scenarios

Imagine crazy things happening, like, "What if there was no internet for a month? What would we do?" These games help us think of new and different ideas.

Pick a hot topic. Argue one side of it and then try arguing the opposite. This makes us see different viewpoints and think deeply about a topic.

3. Analyze Visual Data

Check out charts or pictures with lots of numbers and info but no explanations. What story are they telling? This helps us get better at understanding information just by looking at it.

4. Mind Mapping

Write an idea in the center and then draw lines to related ideas. It's like making a map of your thoughts. This helps us see how everything is connected.

There's lots of mind-mapping software , but it's also nice to do this by hand.

5. Weekly Diary

Every week, write about what happened, the choices you made, and what you learned. Writing helps us think about our actions and how we can do better.

6. Evaluating Information Sources

Collect stories or articles about one topic from newspapers or blogs. Which ones are trustworthy? Which ones might be a little biased? This teaches us to be smart about where we get our info.

There are many resources to help you determine if information sources are factual or not.

7. Socratic Questioning

This way of thinking is called the Socrates Method, named after an old-time thinker from Greece. It's about asking lots of questions to understand a topic. You can do this by yourself or chat with a friend.

Start with a Big Question:

"What does 'success' mean?"

Dive Deeper with More Questions:

"Why do you think of success that way?" "Do TV shows, friends, or family make you think that?" "Does everyone think about success the same way?"

"Can someone be a winner even if they aren't rich or famous?" "Can someone feel like they didn't succeed, even if everyone else thinks they did?"

Look for Real-life Examples:

"Who is someone you think is successful? Why?" "Was there a time you felt like a winner? What happened?"

Think About Other People's Views:

"How might a person from another country think about success?" "Does the idea of success change as we grow up or as our life changes?"

Think About What It Means:

"How does your idea of success shape what you want in life?" "Are there problems with only wanting to be rich or famous?"

Look Back and Think:

"After talking about this, did your idea of success change? How?" "Did you learn something new about what success means?"

socratic dialogue statues

8. Six Thinking Hats 

Edward de Bono came up with a cool way to solve problems by thinking in six different ways, like wearing different colored hats. You can do this independently, but it might be more effective in a group so everyone can have a different hat color. Each color has its way of thinking:

White Hat (Facts): Just the facts! Ask, "What do we know? What do we need to find out?"

Red Hat (Feelings): Talk about feelings. Ask, "How do I feel about this?"

Black Hat (Careful Thinking): Be cautious. Ask, "What could go wrong?"

Yellow Hat (Positive Thinking): Look on the bright side. Ask, "What's good about this?"

Green Hat (Creative Thinking): Think of new ideas. Ask, "What's another way to look at this?"

Blue Hat (Planning): Organize the talk. Ask, "What should we do next?"

When using this method with a group:

  • Explain all the hats.
  • Decide which hat to wear first.
  • Make sure everyone switches hats at the same time.
  • Finish with the Blue Hat to plan the next steps.

9. SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is like a game plan for businesses to know where they stand and where they should go. "SWOT" stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

There are a lot of SWOT templates out there for how to do this visually, but you can also think it through. It doesn't just apply to businesses but can be a good way to decide if a project you're working on is working.

Strengths: What's working well? Ask, "What are we good at?"

Weaknesses: Where can we do better? Ask, "Where can we improve?"

Opportunities: What good things might come our way? Ask, "What chances can we grab?"

Threats: What challenges might we face? Ask, "What might make things tough for us?"

Steps to do a SWOT Analysis:

  • Goal: Decide what you want to find out.
  • Research: Learn about your business and the world around it.
  • Brainstorm: Get a group and think together. Talk about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  • Pick the Most Important Points: Some things might be more urgent or important than others.
  • Make a Plan: Decide what to do based on your SWOT list.
  • Check Again Later: Things change, so look at your SWOT again after a while to update it.

Now that you have a few tools for thinking critically, let’s get into some specific examples.

Everyday Examples

Life is a series of decisions. From the moment we wake up, we're faced with choices – some trivial, like choosing a breakfast cereal, and some more significant, like buying a home or confronting an ethical dilemma at work. While it might seem that these decisions are disparate, they all benefit from the application of critical thinking.

10. Deciding to buy something

Imagine you want a new phone. Don't just buy it because the ad looks cool. Think about what you need in a phone. Look up different phones and see what people say about them. Choose the one that's the best deal for what you want.

11. Deciding what is true

There's a lot of news everywhere. Don't believe everything right away. Think about why someone might be telling you this. Check if what you're reading or watching is true. Make up your mind after you've looked into it.

12. Deciding when you’re wrong

Sometimes, friends can have disagreements. Don't just get mad right away. Try to see where they're coming from. Talk about what's going on. Find a way to fix the problem that's fair for everyone.

13. Deciding what to eat

There's always a new diet or exercise that's popular. Don't just follow it because it's trendy. Find out if it's good for you. Ask someone who knows, like a doctor. Make choices that make you feel good and stay healthy.

14. Deciding what to do today

Everyone is busy with school, chores, and hobbies. Make a list of things you need to do. Decide which ones are most important. Plan your day so you can get things done and still have fun.

15. Making Tough Choices

Sometimes, it's hard to know what's right. Think about how each choice will affect you and others. Talk to people you trust about it. Choose what feels right in your heart and is fair to others.

16. Planning for the Future

Big decisions, like where to go to school, can be tricky. Think about what you want in the future. Look at the good and bad of each choice. Talk to people who know about it. Pick what feels best for your dreams and goals.

choosing a house

Job Examples

17. solving problems.

Workers brainstorm ways to fix a machine quickly without making things worse when a machine breaks at a factory.

18. Decision Making

A store manager decides which products to order more of based on what's selling best.

19. Setting Goals

A team leader helps their team decide what tasks are most important to finish this month and which can wait.

20. Evaluating Ideas

At a team meeting, everyone shares ideas for a new project. The group discusses each idea's pros and cons before picking one.

21. Handling Conflict

Two workers disagree on how to do a job. Instead of arguing, they talk calmly, listen to each other, and find a solution they both like.

22. Improving Processes

A cashier thinks of a faster way to ring up items so customers don't have to wait as long.

23. Asking Questions

Before starting a big task, an employee asks for clear instructions and checks if they have the necessary tools.

24. Checking Facts

Before presenting a report, someone double-checks all their information to make sure there are no mistakes.

25. Planning for the Future

A business owner thinks about what might happen in the next few years, like new competitors or changes in what customers want, and makes plans based on those thoughts.

26. Understanding Perspectives

A team is designing a new toy. They think about what kids and parents would both like instead of just what they think is fun.

School Examples

27. researching a topic.

For a history project, a student looks up different sources to understand an event from multiple viewpoints.

28. Debating an Issue

In a class discussion, students pick sides on a topic, like school uniforms, and share reasons to support their views.

29. Evaluating Sources

While writing an essay, a student checks if the information from a website is trustworthy or might be biased.

30. Problem Solving in Math

When stuck on a tricky math problem, a student tries different methods to find the answer instead of giving up.

31. Analyzing Literature

In English class, students discuss why a character in a book made certain choices and what those decisions reveal about them.

32. Testing a Hypothesis

For a science experiment, students guess what will happen and then conduct tests to see if they're right or wrong.

33. Giving Peer Feedback

After reading a classmate's essay, a student offers suggestions for improving it.

34. Questioning Assumptions

In a geography lesson, students consider why certain countries are called "developed" and what that label means.

35. Designing a Study

For a psychology project, students plan an experiment to understand how people's memories work and think of ways to ensure accurate results.

36. Interpreting Data

In a science class, students look at charts and graphs from a study, then discuss what the information tells them and if there are any patterns.

Critical Thinking Puzzles

critical thinking tree

Not all scenarios will have a single correct answer that can be figured out by thinking critically. Sometimes we have to think critically about ethical choices or moral behaviors. 

Here are some mind games and scenarios you can solve using critical thinking. You can see the solution(s) at the end of the post.

37. The Farmer, Fox, Chicken, and Grain Problem

A farmer is at a riverbank with a fox, a chicken, and a grain bag. He needs to get all three items across the river. However, his boat can only carry himself and one of the three items at a time. 

Here's the challenge:

  • If the fox is left alone with the chicken, the fox will eat the chicken.
  • If the chicken is left alone with the grain, the chicken will eat the grain.

How can the farmer get all three items across the river without any item being eaten? 

38. The Rope, Jar, and Pebbles Problem

You are in a room with two long ropes hanging from the ceiling. Each rope is just out of arm's reach from the other, so you can't hold onto one rope and reach the other simultaneously. 

Your task is to tie the two rope ends together, but you can't move the position where they hang from the ceiling.

You are given a jar full of pebbles. How do you complete the task?

39. The Two Guards Problem

Imagine there are two doors. One door leads to certain doom, and the other leads to freedom. You don't know which is which.

In front of each door stands a guard. One guard always tells the truth. The other guard always lies. You don't know which guard is which.

You can ask only one question to one of the guards. What question should you ask to find the door that leads to freedom?

40. The Hourglass Problem

You have two hourglasses. One measures 7 minutes when turned over, and the other measures 4 minutes. Using just these hourglasses, how can you time exactly 9 minutes?

41. The Lifeboat Dilemma

Imagine you're on a ship that's sinking. You get on a lifeboat, but it's already too full and might flip over. 

Nearby in the water, five people are struggling: a scientist close to finding a cure for a sickness, an old couple who've been together for a long time, a mom with three kids waiting at home, and a tired teenager who helped save others but is now in danger. 

You can only save one person without making the boat flip. Who would you choose?

42. The Tech Dilemma

You work at a tech company and help make a computer program to help small businesses. You're almost ready to share it with everyone, but you find out there might be a small chance it has a problem that could show users' private info. 

If you decide to fix it, you must wait two more months before sharing it. But your bosses want you to share it now. What would you do?

43. The History Mystery

Dr. Amelia is a history expert. She's studying where a group of people traveled long ago. She reads old letters and documents to learn about it. But she finds some letters that tell a different story than what most people believe. 

If she says this new story is true, it could change what people learn in school and what they think about history. What should she do?

The Role of Bias in Critical Thinking

Have you ever decided you don’t like someone before you even know them? Or maybe someone shared an idea with you that you immediately loved without even knowing all the details. 

This experience is called bias, which occurs when you like or dislike something or someone without a good reason or knowing why. It can also take shape in certain reactions to situations, like a habit or instinct. 

Bias comes from our own experiences, what friends or family tell us, or even things we are born believing. Sometimes, bias can help us stay safe, but other times it stops us from seeing the truth.

Not all bias is bad. Bias can be a mechanism for assessing our potential safety in a new situation. If we are biased to think that anything long, thin, and curled up is a snake, we might assume the rope is something to be afraid of before we know it is just a rope.

While bias might serve us in some situations (like jumping out of the way of an actual snake before we have time to process that we need to be jumping out of the way), it often harms our ability to think critically.

How Bias Gets in the Way of Good Thinking

Selective Perception: We only notice things that match our ideas and ignore the rest. 

It's like only picking red candies from a mixed bowl because you think they taste the best, but they taste the same as every other candy in the bowl. It could also be when we see all the signs that our partner is cheating on us but choose to ignore them because we are happy the way we are (or at least, we think we are).

Agreeing with Yourself: This is called “ confirmation bias ” when we only listen to ideas that match our own and seek, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms what we already think we know or believe. 

An example is when someone wants to know if it is safe to vaccinate their children but already believes that vaccines are not safe, so they only look for information supporting the idea that vaccines are bad.

Thinking We Know It All: Similar to confirmation bias, this is called “overconfidence bias.” Sometimes we think our ideas are the best and don't listen to others. This can stop us from learning.

Have you ever met someone who you consider a “know it”? Probably, they have a lot of overconfidence bias because while they may know many things accurately, they can’t know everything. Still, if they act like they do, they show overconfidence bias.

There's a weird kind of bias similar to this called the Dunning Kruger Effect, and that is when someone is bad at what they do, but they believe and act like they are the best .

Following the Crowd: This is formally called “groupthink”. It's hard to speak up with a different idea if everyone agrees. But this can lead to mistakes.

An example of this we’ve all likely seen is the cool clique in primary school. There is usually one person that is the head of the group, the “coolest kid in school”, and everyone listens to them and does what they want, even if they don’t think it’s a good idea.

How to Overcome Biases

Here are a few ways to learn to think better, free from our biases (or at least aware of them!).

Know Your Biases: Realize that everyone has biases. If we know about them, we can think better.

Listen to Different People: Talking to different kinds of people can give us new ideas.

Ask Why: Always ask yourself why you believe something. Is it true, or is it just a bias?

Understand Others: Try to think about how others feel. It helps you see things in new ways.

Keep Learning: Always be curious and open to new information.

city in a globe connection

In today's world, everything changes fast, and there's so much information everywhere. This makes critical thinking super important. It helps us distinguish between what's real and what's made up. It also helps us make good choices. But thinking this way can be tough sometimes because of biases. These are like sneaky thoughts that can trick us. The good news is we can learn to see them and think better.

There are cool tools and ways we've talked about, like the "Socratic Questioning" method and the "Six Thinking Hats." These tools help us get better at thinking. These thinking skills can also help us in school, work, and everyday life.

We’ve also looked at specific scenarios where critical thinking would be helpful, such as deciding what diet to follow and checking facts.

Thinking isn't just a skill—it's a special talent we improve over time. Working on it lets us see things more clearly and understand the world better. So, keep practicing and asking questions! It'll make you a smarter thinker and help you see the world differently.

Critical Thinking Puzzles (Solutions)

The farmer, fox, chicken, and grain problem.

  • The farmer first takes the chicken across the river and leaves it on the other side.
  • He returns to the original side and takes the fox across the river.
  • After leaving the fox on the other side, he returns the chicken to the starting side.
  • He leaves the chicken on the starting side and takes the grain bag across the river.
  • He leaves the grain with the fox on the other side and returns to get the chicken.
  • The farmer takes the chicken across, and now all three items -- the fox, the chicken, and the grain -- are safely on the other side of the river.

The Rope, Jar, and Pebbles Problem

  • Take one rope and tie the jar of pebbles to its end.
  • Swing the rope with the jar in a pendulum motion.
  • While the rope is swinging, grab the other rope and wait.
  • As the swinging rope comes back within reach due to its pendulum motion, grab it.
  • With both ropes within reach, untie the jar and tie the rope ends together.

The Two Guards Problem

The question is, "What would the other guard say is the door to doom?" Then choose the opposite door.

The Hourglass Problem

  • Start both hourglasses. 
  • When the 4-minute hourglass runs out, turn it over.
  • When the 7-minute hourglass runs out, the 4-minute hourglass will have been running for 3 minutes. Turn the 7-minute hourglass over. 
  • When the 4-minute hourglass runs out for the second time (a total of 8 minutes have passed), the 7-minute hourglass will run for 1 minute. Turn the 7-minute hourglass again for 1 minute to empty the hourglass (a total of 9 minutes passed).

The Boat and Weights Problem

Take the cat over first and leave it on the other side. Then, return and take the fish across next. When you get there, take the cat back with you. Leave the cat on the starting side and take the cat food across. Lastly, return to get the cat and bring it to the other side.

The Lifeboat Dilemma

There isn’t one correct answer to this problem. Here are some elements to consider:

  • Moral Principles: What values guide your decision? Is it the potential greater good for humanity (the scientist)? What is the value of long-standing love and commitment (the elderly couple)? What is the future of young children who depend on their mothers? Or the selfless bravery of the teenager?
  • Future Implications: Consider the future consequences of each choice. Saving the scientist might benefit millions in the future, but what moral message does it send about the value of individual lives?
  • Emotional vs. Logical Thinking: While it's essential to engage empathy, it's also crucial not to let emotions cloud judgment entirely. For instance, while the teenager's bravery is commendable, does it make him more deserving of a spot on the boat than the others?
  • Acknowledging Uncertainty: The scientist claims to be close to a significant breakthrough, but there's no certainty. How does this uncertainty factor into your decision?
  • Personal Bias: Recognize and challenge any personal biases, such as biases towards age, profession, or familial status.

The Tech Dilemma

Again, there isn’t one correct answer to this problem. Here are some elements to consider:

  • Evaluate the Risk: How severe is the potential vulnerability? Can it be easily exploited, or would it require significant expertise? Even if the circumstances are rare, what would be the consequences if the vulnerability were exploited?
  • Stakeholder Considerations: Different stakeholders will have different priorities. Upper management might prioritize financial projections, the marketing team might be concerned about the product's reputation, and customers might prioritize the security of their data. How do you balance these competing interests?
  • Short-Term vs. Long-Term Implications: While launching on time could meet immediate financial goals, consider the potential long-term damage to the company's reputation if the vulnerability is exploited. Would the short-term gains be worth the potential long-term costs?
  • Ethical Implications : Beyond the financial and reputational aspects, there's an ethical dimension to consider. Is it right to release a product with a known vulnerability, even if the chances of it being exploited are low?
  • Seek External Input: Consulting with cybersecurity experts outside your company might be beneficial. They could provide a more objective risk assessment and potential mitigation strategies.
  • Communication: How will you communicate the decision, whatever it may be, both internally to your team and upper management and externally to your customers and potential users?

The History Mystery

Dr. Amelia should take the following steps:

  • Verify the Letters: Before making any claims, she should check if the letters are actual and not fake. She can do this by seeing when and where they were written and if they match with other things from that time.
  • Get a Second Opinion: It's always good to have someone else look at what you've found. Dr. Amelia could show the letters to other history experts and see their thoughts.
  • Research More: Maybe there are more documents or letters out there that support this new story. Dr. Amelia should keep looking to see if she can find more evidence.
  • Share the Findings: If Dr. Amelia believes the letters are true after all her checks, she should tell others. This can be through books, talks, or articles.
  • Stay Open to Feedback: Some people might agree with Dr. Amelia, and others might not. She should listen to everyone and be ready to learn more or change her mind if new information arises.

Ultimately, Dr. Amelia's job is to find out the truth about history and share it. It's okay if this new truth differs from what people used to believe. History is about learning from the past, no matter the story.

Related posts:

  • Experimenter Bias (Definition + Examples)
  • Hasty Generalization Fallacy (31 Examples + Similar Names)
  • Ad Hoc Fallacy (29 Examples + Other Names)
  • Confirmation Bias (Examples + Definition)
  • Equivocation Fallacy (26 Examples + Description)

Reference this article:

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  • What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

Published on May 30, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information and form a judgment .

To think critically, you must be aware of your own biases and assumptions when encountering information, and apply consistent standards when evaluating sources .

Critical thinking skills help you to:

  • Identify credible sources
  • Evaluate and respond to arguments
  • Assess alternative viewpoints
  • Test hypotheses against relevant criteria

Table of contents

Why is critical thinking important, critical thinking examples, how to think critically, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about critical thinking.

Critical thinking is important for making judgments about sources of information and forming your own arguments. It emphasizes a rational, objective, and self-aware approach that can help you to identify credible sources and strengthen your conclusions.

Critical thinking is important in all disciplines and throughout all stages of the research process . The types of evidence used in the sciences and in the humanities may differ, but critical thinking skills are relevant to both.

In academic writing , critical thinking can help you to determine whether a source:

  • Is free from research bias
  • Provides evidence to support its research findings
  • Considers alternative viewpoints

Outside of academia, critical thinking goes hand in hand with information literacy to help you form opinions rationally and engage independently and critically with popular media.

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examples of critical thinking in sports

Critical thinking can help you to identify reliable sources of information that you can cite in your research paper . It can also guide your own research methods and inform your own arguments.

Outside of academia, critical thinking can help you to be aware of both your own and others’ biases and assumptions.

Academic examples

However, when you compare the findings of the study with other current research, you determine that the results seem improbable. You analyze the paper again, consulting the sources it cites.

You notice that the research was funded by the pharmaceutical company that created the treatment. Because of this, you view its results skeptically and determine that more independent research is necessary to confirm or refute them. Example: Poor critical thinking in an academic context You’re researching a paper on the impact wireless technology has had on developing countries that previously did not have large-scale communications infrastructure. You read an article that seems to confirm your hypothesis: the impact is mainly positive. Rather than evaluating the research methodology, you accept the findings uncritically.

Nonacademic examples

However, you decide to compare this review article with consumer reviews on a different site. You find that these reviews are not as positive. Some customers have had problems installing the alarm, and some have noted that it activates for no apparent reason.

You revisit the original review article. You notice that the words “sponsored content” appear in small print under the article title. Based on this, you conclude that the review is advertising and is therefore not an unbiased source. Example: Poor critical thinking in a nonacademic context You support a candidate in an upcoming election. You visit an online news site affiliated with their political party and read an article that criticizes their opponent. The article claims that the opponent is inexperienced in politics. You accept this without evidence, because it fits your preconceptions about the opponent.

There is no single way to think critically. How you engage with information will depend on the type of source you’re using and the information you need.

However, you can engage with sources in a systematic and critical way by asking certain questions when you encounter information. Like the CRAAP test , these questions focus on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

When encountering information, ask:

  • Who is the author? Are they an expert in their field?
  • What do they say? Is their argument clear? Can you summarize it?
  • When did they say this? Is the source current?
  • Where is the information published? Is it an academic article? Is it peer-reviewed ?
  • Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
  • How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence? Does it rely on opinion, speculation, or appeals to emotion ? Do they address alternative arguments?

Critical thinking also involves being aware of your own biases, not only those of others. When you make an argument or draw your own conclusions, you can ask similar questions about your own writing:

  • Am I only considering evidence that supports my preconceptions?
  • Is my argument expressed clearly and backed up with credible sources?
  • Would I be convinced by this argument coming from someone else?

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • ChatGPT vs human editor
  • ChatGPT citations
  • Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
  • Using ChatGPT for your studies
  • What is ChatGPT?
  • Chicago style
  • Paraphrasing

 Plagiarism

  • Types of plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Avoiding plagiarism
  • Academic integrity
  • Consequences of plagiarism
  • Common knowledge

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

Critical thinking skills include the ability to:

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

  • Who is the author? Are they an expert?
  • How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A credible source should pass the CRAAP test  and follow these guidelines:

  • The information should be up to date and current.
  • The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching.
  • The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased.
  • For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy.

Information literacy refers to a broad range of skills, including the ability to find, evaluate, and use sources of information effectively.

Being information literate means that you:

  • Know how to find credible sources
  • Use relevant sources to inform your research
  • Understand what constitutes plagiarism
  • Know how to cite your sources correctly

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search, interpret, and recall information in a way that aligns with our pre-existing values, opinions, or beliefs. It refers to the ability to recollect information best when it amplifies what we already believe. Relatedly, we tend to forget information that contradicts our opinions.

Although selective recall is a component of confirmation bias, it should not be confused with recall bias.

On the other hand, recall bias refers to the differences in the ability between study participants to recall past events when self-reporting is used. This difference in accuracy or completeness of recollection is not related to beliefs or opinions. Rather, recall bias relates to other factors, such as the length of the recall period, age, and the characteristics of the disease under investigation.

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Mid-ohio valley climate corner: finding reliable climate information on youtube.

YouTube and other media have reliable information, but finding it relies on critical thinking and reviewing who presented and what bias might they have or incentives to mislead, the same way books and other publications should be scrutinized. You might think a librarian would steer readers away from user-generated content, but some of those content creators are certified and verifiable experts with a pattern of disclosure of sources (instead of self proclaimed and “trust me” attitudes).

This week in the MOV and broader region was brutal with a 90+F heat dome. I thought while spending time indoors next week or in the next heat wave readers might explore some media which can be both entertaining and reliable information on climate and ways to take steps to reduce energy use at home and work. I’m including both a specific video to watch from each YouTube Channel, but encourage you to explore their other content.

My top 10 channels on climate and energy:

1. Just Have A Think: A coal power station without coal! How a Win-Win solution could save an industry.

2. Simon Clark: Why aren’t we all using heat pumps?

3. ClimateAdam: Is Global Warming Speeding Up?

4. Matt Risinger “The Build Show:” 2024 Heat Pump Water Heater Buyers Guide

5. PBS Terra: Save the Planet? In THIS economy? Pffft

6. Practical Engineering: Connecting Solar to the Grid is Harder Than You Think

7. Climate Town: Natural Gas is Scamming America

8. HASI (podcast): Enabling global emission matching with data Driven RECs

(full disclosure: I own shares in HASI)

9. Technology Connections: Heat Pump guide playlist https://tinyurl.com/bdznbath

10. Undecided with Matt Ferrell: Is It Time to Start Cooking With Magnets?

Bonus video: Rethinking the way we think of electric peak power. A startup in Texas called Base Power, installs batteries to give back power at peak times to time-shift low power cost availability. Growth in renewables can make them reliable and able to be dispatched when power is needed.

I hope you take a moment and watch these videos and listen to what they cover about a variety of climate issues. Think about what you want for the future of the Mid-Ohio Valley. I would like to see more renewable energy being installed to diversify our tax base and energy supply.

From my experience working with local trades, we need training to bring installations and construction into line with best practices for energy efficiency. We need building codes that will save building occupants energy and costs in the long term, not just cheap and easy to construct, but affordable over time.

What skills do you see the MOV needing developed and which are strong and ready to support new business opportunities? Ask elected officials when we will have a regional climate resiliency plan for economic development and risk management?

I would like to invite you to visit the MOVCA tent this weekend at the Multicultural Festival in City Park, Parkersburg. Introduce yourself, talk about what you learned from a video or share what you would like to learn/do about climate and the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Jonathan Brier is a Marietta resident, information scientist, data librarian, and an Eagle Scout. He is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery, American Association for the Advancement of Science, OpenStreetMap US, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action, and a Wikipedia contributor. Visit https://brierjon.com or email: [email protected]

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  • Category: ID@Xbox

Breaking the Fourth Wall: Fiction Meets Reality in ARG Trust No One

  • Real-world interactions blend with in-game narratives
  • Community collaboration
  • Real-world research and critical thinking

Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) have revolutionized the way players interact with games by breaking the fourth wall, blending fiction with reality, and creating immersive experiences that extend beyond traditional gaming boundaries. Trust No One epitomizes this innovative approach, engaging you on a deeper level by integrating real-world elements into its narrative.

Breaking the Fourth Wall

In traditional media, breaking the fourth wall refers to characters acknowledging the audience’s existence, thereby disrupting the imaginary “wall” separating them from the viewer. Trust No One pushes this further by dissolving the boundary between the game and the real world. Players are not just passive consumers of a story; they become active participants, influencing the narrative and engaging with real-world elements to advance the plot.

Trust NO - screenshot

Immersion Through Real-World Interaction

Trust No One , developed by Triomatica Games, is a prime example enhancing player engagement by breaking the fourth wall. Set in Kyiv, you take on the role of a journalist investigating a mysterious AI company. You must use external resources such as internet searches and real-world clues to solve puzzles, creating a seamless blend of digital and physical realities.

This immersive approach to gameplay makes you feel like you are part of the game’s world. By stepping outside the confines of the game itself, you engage more deeply with the narrative, experiencing a sense of involvement and urgency that traditional games often lack. The real-world interaction fosters a connection to the game’s story, making the experience more personal and impactful.

TrustNO screenshot

Community and Collaboration

ARGs often rely on community collaboration to solve complex puzzles and uncover hidden narratives. Trust No One encourages players to share discoveries and work together to piece together the story. This collaborative aspect builds a sense of community among players. Online forums, social media groups, and dedicated websites become integral parts of the gaming experience, where players can exchange information, theories, and solutions.

The social dimension of Trust No One transforms the gaming experience into a collective journey, where you feel part of a larger effort.  But what if your cooperative mate is one of the game’s characters? You are going to communicate with one of the game characters via real email in order to progress in Trust No One .

TrustNO screenshot

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

By breaking the fourth wall, Trust No One also enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You must think creatively, analyze real-world information, and connect disparate clues to progress.  You are going to analyze in-game clues and connect them to real-world information, like addresses of real places in Kyiv. By the way, all game locations have their real-world prototypes and even have their real addresses, so you can check them all on Bing Maps.

In Trust No One , the puzzles are designed to be challenging and require you to engage with various external sources. This level of complexity and the need for real-world research encourages you to develop a more analytical and resourceful mindset, benefiting your problem-solving abilities both within and outside the game.

Trust NO - screenshot

Would you Like to Try It?

Breaking the fourth wall in Trust No One significantly enhances your engagement by merging the fictional world with reality, fostering community collaboration, and encouraging critical thinking. This unique and immersive experience will captivate you and keeps you invested in the narrative long after you’ve put down you controller. By continuing to innovate and blur the lines between game and reality, Trust No One is at the forefront of interactive storytelling, offering you new ways to engage with and influence the worlds you explore.

Only you decide what your next step will be. Trust No One has a completely open world with more than 300 locations to explore. Try it and see where it leads you.

Feel like a journalist in the real Kyiv, unravelling a mysterious web of clues that lead you to an unexpected finale.

Available on Xbox Series and Xbox One Today. And remember: Trust No One.

Trust No One

Trust No One

Triomatica Games

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  25. Breaking the Fourth Wall: Fiction Meets Reality in ARG Trust No One

    Breaking the fourth wall in Trust No One significantly enhances your engagement by merging the fictional world with reality, fostering community collaboration, and encouraging critical thinking. This unique and immersive experience will captivate you and keeps you invested in the narrative long after you've put down you controller.