Questions for Evaluating My Thought Process
Purpose
- What am I trying to accomplish? What problem am I trying to solve? What opportunity am I trying to leverage?
- What is my central aim? My purpose?
Questions
- What question am I raising?
- What question am I addressing?
- Am I considering the complexities in the question?
- What other questions should I be asking?
Information
- What information am I using in coming to a conclusion?
- What experience have I had to support this claim?
- What information would I need to fully substantiate a conclusion?
Inferences/Conclusions
- How did I arrive at my initial conclusion? What inferences led me there?
- How might my initial inferences have influenced my data gathering?
- Is there another way to interpret the information?
Concepts
- What is the main idea here?
- Can I explain this idea?
Assumptions
- What am I taking for granted?
- Have I examined all of the assumptions I have made to this point?
- Should I eliminate or modify any assumptions?
Implications/Consequences
- What are the expected and possible unexpected consequences of this decision?
- If someone accepted my position, what would be the implications?
- What am I implying?
Points of View
- From what point of view am I looking at this issue?
- Are there other points of view I should consider?
- With whom might I discuss this to get additional perspectives?
Adapted from Paul, Dr. Richard; Elder, Dr. Linda. (2002) Critical Thinking. New Jersey: Financial Times Prentice Hall, p. 120-127.