analytical vs critical thinking

analytical vs critical thinking

Analytical vs Critical Thinking

1. Introduction

“1. Introduction: The initial overview of Analytical Thinking and Critical Thinking is understood to inform the readers about the relevance of AT and CT. This means providing understanding of how ordinary thinking can affect the quality of work produced. This also helps the reader to get a clearer understanding of what AT and CT is. Moreover, from this topic it can provide as a helping tool to those in need of making comparisons. AT and CT is a type of decision making that requires a lot of mental activity which is also considered as problem solving. The application of AT is to take a problem and break it down into smaller issues so it is easier to comprehend. In other cases the root cause of the problem is difficulties to be understood. This illustrates that AT is about building a picture or a model of the problem. This aspect of AT is also a technique used in CT. AT and CT is a type of decision making that requires a lot of mental activity which is also considered as problem solving. The application of AT is to take a problem and break it down into smaller issues so it is easier to comprehend. In other cases the root cause of the problem is difficulties to be understood. This illustrates that AT is about building a picture or a model of the problem. This aspect of AT is also a technique used in CT.”

2. Understanding Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking helps us to consider the problem in a more organised and structured manner. It offers a better framework for examining the problem so that we can identify the various elements of a problem. Observe different angles and viewpoints, construct alternative solutions, and evaluate the solutions. By doing these steps, it helps to prevent us from jumping to the wrong conclusion and making things worse than they already are. Let’s consider an example, a friend of yours has confided in you that he has failed an exam and does not know what to do. He has been feeling depressed and is considering dropping out of school. A person who is considerate and has been constantly monitoring his thinking would be very concerned at this point as to why his friend has failed the exam and what is causing him to think of such an extreme decision. He then tries to find out more about the situation and has discovered that it is because his friend has been feeling too much pressure from his parents to pass his exams and to take over the family business but it is not what he truly wants. The concerned friend can now identify the problem as his friend feeling too much pressure and now has a clearer understanding of the situation. He is now able to consider more suitable solutions and provide effective help to his friend. This whole process demonstrates the greater depth of thinking and understanding of information that analytical thinking provides.

3. Understanding Critical Thinking

Characteristics of critical thinkers are the behaviors that individuals exhibit when they are deeply thinking about decisions and beliefs in tough situations. These characteristics stem from underlying attributes that are present in critical thinkers. Primarily, critical thinkers are inquisitive and curious about situations and subjects. They give thought to these subjects because they understand that situational changes often rely on decisions and they want to avoid confusion. Decisions should be based on a reason, rather than simply doing something because it is easy. Critical thinkers understand that best practices lead to the best decisions and actively seek them out. Making effective decisions and maximizing one’s conditions require accurate, relevant, and timely information. Critical thinkers are aware of the problem or question at hand and stay tuned in to how their decisions are affecting the outcome.

Understanding critical thinking involves in-depth application of knowledge and experience to identify where one is coming from and determine where they will end up. Critical thinking is the ability to think for oneself and make decisions that are reliable and responsible. Critical thinkers carefully reflect on the quality of their thinking and the rational basis that supports their beliefs. They strive for valid inferences by focusing on drawing conclusions that are supported by evidence. They are thorough in their thinking while avoiding barriers that can hinder critical thinking. Critical thinkers keep their point of view in full consciousness, striving for fair and just decisions and beliefs. They pay diligent attention to the possible effects of their decisions and the process by which they arrived at them. They also utilize their problem-solving abilities to anticipate obstacles and formulate plans to overcome them.

4. Comparing Analytical and Critical Thinking

Some possibilities are: you can find out more about this woman, or you can look for a more specific image of a woman. In case 1, you only need to know who to ask. In case 2, you will want to think about the kind of woman who is likely to be found in those different locations. In both cases you are looking for more information, even though what you do will be different in the two cases. So you shouldn’t immediately think that the second type of thinking is more “critical” than the first. It is helpful to have a typology of thinking so that we can think about thinking, and although there will undoubtedly be overlap between two typologies we make, it is probably true that more than one sort of thinking often occurs in a single complex activity. Any activity where no positive reason has been offered for thinking that it has been done well, is an activity where people are unsure what the activity is. Overlapping and partially concurrent with the foregoing activity: 4.5 Try out some descriptive hypothesis Types of thinking will often be overlapping and interpenetrating. This particular type of thinking can be at the ‘beyond the information given’ end of the spectrum. Suppose you were asked to infer the likely appearance of a woman who has only been described as a ‘typical librarian’. A guess at what is meant by ‘typical’ would be descriptive hypothesis. This guessing might occur without any conscious awareness that there is no direct information on the topic, in which case this would be an example of beyond the information given thinking.

5. Conclusion

Critical thinking involves a wide range of thinking skills leading toward desirable outcomes and reflective thinking focuses on the process of making judgments and begins with the proper assessment of problems. Effective critical thinkers can think logically and systematically, and understand conceptual connections, as well as identify, construct, and evaluate arguments. Critical thinking has several phases, the core phase being the compare and contrast phase, which is crucial for the decision maker. At this phase, a decision maker must remember the desired goal or aimed solution and compare possible alternative outcomes. Coming to this phase, Simon (1976) outlines the assumption that the decision maker is rational, and this is rarely the case. With so many assumptions broken, Simon pivots the decision making model direction towards that of bounded irrationality proposed by Herbert A. Simon in the sixth system of his organizations.

In conclusion, it is evident that even though at times the terms critical and analytical thinking are used interchangeably, both types of thinking, working through the thinking process regularly, yield positive results when used persuasively. In today’s competitive job market, employers are seeking workers who are capable of higher order thinking because this speeds up their problem solving and decision making processes. It is clear that both thinking types are desirable and an individual should be competent in both, yet which type is to be used where; critical thinking is accumulated for admiring use while in assessment, while analytical thinking is the ideal choice for decision making. So whether you are a manager making decisions, a teacher planning lessons, or a student working through homework, there are numerous opportunities for the application of each type.