Thinking Styles of Critical Thinking and Decision Making
Critical thinking provides framework for successfully evaluating information to make effective decisions; critical thinking entails identifying the best investigation methods to use in finding optimal solutions (Feldman, 2009, pg. 9). In addition, critical thinking takes form in various thinking styles which range from deductive to creative. This paper examines three critical-thinking styles- emotional, logical and scientific. Comparing and contrasting these three styles is the purpose for writing this paper, as well as to show how each style affects the critical-thinking process. Critical thinking is applied to the decision-making process through discussion of workplace examples that highlight each of the three thinking styles examined. Robert Fritz, management consultant also credited with developing structural dynamics, had this to say about making decisions:
“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise (Quotations Page, 2010).”
Emotional Thinking Style Emotional thinking as a personal barrier causes individuals to risk bias and blocked thoughts; however, when feelings are utilized properly one develops a positive force behind his or her thoughts. Because “feeling follows thought (2007)” and is easily observed in almost any scenario, researchers are currently focusing their studies on this phenomena. Feeling a certain way can motivate one’s thinking in terms of tone and speech. Fluency occurs when individuals allow the force behind their emotions to lead them; verbal eloquence is the result of a flow of feelings into words. “Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion –Hegel (Kirby & Goodpastor, 2007, Ch. 6).” Emotional thinking affects critical thinking because awareness of the correlation between feeling and thought demands attention to the topic of thought and how one feels about the topic. Attention to this
“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise (Quotations Page, 2010).”
Emotional Thinking Style Emotional thinking as a personal barrier causes individuals to risk bias and blocked thoughts; however, when feelings are utilized properly one develops a positive force behind his or her thoughts. Because “feeling follows thought (2007)” and is easily observed in almost any scenario, researchers are currently focusing their studies on this phenomena. Feeling a certain way can motivate one’s thinking in terms of tone and speech. Fluency occurs when individuals allow the force behind their emotions to lead them; verbal eloquence is the result of a flow of feelings into words. “Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion –Hegel (Kirby & Goodpastor, 2007, Ch. 6).” Emotional thinking affects critical thinking because awareness of the correlation between feeling and thought demands attention to the topic of thought and how one feels about the topic. Attention to this
References: Feldman, D. (2009). Critical Thinking: Make Strategic Decisions with Confidence, Axzo Press. Retrieved from the World Wide Web at http://www.axzopress.com/downloads/pdf/1426018533pv.pdf Kirby, G., & Goodpaster, J. (2007). Ch. 6: Feeling, Ch. 10: Scientific Thinking. In Thinking: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical and Creative Thought (4th ed., Para 3-4). Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader.aspx?assetMetaId=8b8803a8-2bba-48b1-be11-f0f4106b8920&assetDataId=46f822bb-4b56-418a-a91b-493487049140&assetpdfdataid=72c7178c-3d55-40ad-a0be-0e8333a33ef5 Logical Thinking (n.d.) Retrieved from the web at http://www.managementresourcesinstitute.com/logicalthinking.htm Quotations Page (2010).Quotations by Subject: Decision: Robert Fritz. Retrieved from the World Wide Web at http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/decisions/ Koray, Ö., & Köksal, M. (2009). The Effect of Creative and Critical Thinking Based Laboratory Applications on Creative and Logical Thinking Abilities of Prospective Teachers. Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning & Teaching, 10(1), 1-13.