What Is Critical Thinking? Video

Critical thinking is about cutting through the noise to find the truth. It's about using experience, observation and logic to guide your decisions and beliefs.

But, when you're bombarded with lots of information, or if emotions are running high, it can be hard to think rationally.

Being a critical thinker can help you to better understand yourself and the world around you. So, let's look at five things you can do to think critically.

1. Gather Information

Do some background research   to determine the facts! Use reputable online sources, read articles and books, listen to podcasts and expert interviews. Using information from a variety of sources will allow you to see things from different perspectives and prevent bias from creeping in.

2. Harness Your Powers of Deduction

Do some detective work to help you decide if something really is likely to be true. How reliable   is the source? Is there anything missing? What evidence and data is there to support the claim?

3. Follow the Evidence

Look at the evidence you've gathered so far. Where is it pointing? Are there definite facts? Or is some information based on assumptions? Don't be afraid to test these assumptions and explore alternatives if they're incorrect.

4. Be Rational

Don't let your emotions or personal feelings cloud your judgment. Instead, apply reason   , logic and merit. Ask yourself, "What's the probability of this claim being true?"

5. Reflect

Take a step back from the information that you've gathered and review it. This will prevent you from becoming "blinkered." And allow you to focus on the bigger picture.

For more on critical thinking, read the article   that accompanies this video.