Elements of Thought: Keys to Successful Critical Decision-Making - Essay Sample

Introduction

Elements of thoughts refer to the basic principles that are present in thinking and key to successful critical decision making. Elements of thoughts are interrelated concepts that play a significant role in arriving at the desired thinking framework (Elder & Paul, 2007). Thinking is an essential activity carried out by every human being although there is a significant difference in the approach of thoughts and theoretical model applied in thinking which leads to different outcomes from one person to another (Harvey, 2018). Asking the right question during critical thinking is essential to create a systematic view and evaluation of a scenario using crucial issues that can promote a deeper understanding of a phenomenon (Browne & Keeley, 2007). This paper will assess the correlation between the elements of thought and critical questions in the art of critical thinking.

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Elements of Thoughts and Asking the Right Question

There are eight main elements of thoughts which are the ideas, concepts and theories that help in the interpretation of data, experiences, and facts to answer critical questions, resolve issues and solve problems (Elder & Paul, 2007). Thinking leads to the generation of purpose, identification of implications, assessment of assumptions, making of inferences, creation of questions, use of concepts, need for information, and creation of a point of view. All these can be referred to as the elements of thoughts, which are the structures that collectively are used to facilitate thinking (Elder & Paul, 2007). On the other hand, asking the right question is an aspect of critical thinking, which is the initiation of thoughts and thinking. Asking questions is a dimension of critical thinking and includes the awareness of the interrelationships between different scenarios, the active desire to raise questions, and the ability to answer the raised questions appropriately (Browne & Keeley, 2007). Therefore, whereas the asking of the right questions is the initial stage towards critical thinking, the elements of thoughts control the entire process of critical thinking being the structure through which the mind base it is reasoning. Elements of thoughts and asking the right questions are essential elements that are desired in the critical thinking process in which one cannot ask the right questions without having to depend on the elements of thoughts. The questions can be visualized as the destination, whereas the elements of thoughts are the means of arriving at the right questions in the critical thinking process.

Similarities Between Elements of Thought and "Asking the Right Questions"

The elements of thoughts are the structures of thinking which shape the concepts and direction of thoughts whereas the ability to ask the right questions refers to the evaluative nature of the brain in a scenario which helps to dissect the different components of a problem to arrive at the best conclusion (Elder & Paul, 2007). The similarity of the elements of thoughts and asking the right questions is that they do not exist in isolation, and both involve several independent factors that collectively lead to brain function. Elements of thoughts is an embodiment of purpose, point of view, consequences, availability of information, and inferences, which leads to the achievement of critical thinking (Elder & Paul, 2007). On the other hand, asking the right questions requires similar collective elements such as the reliance on the brain, continuous practice, issue of contention, reasons behind the issue, determination of ambiguity, and assumptions (Browne & Keeley, 2007). In both cases, experience or information is necessary to facilitate thinking and establishment of the issue that requires to be concluded. Identifying the elements of thoughts and asking the right questions, is a process that requires practice, which is a common factor in the two elements of critical thinking.

Differences Between Elements of Thought and Asking the Right Questions

Elements of thought encompass a reasoning framework that has multiple factors such as the purpose, the inferences, the concepts, information, assumptions and implications. On the other hand, asking the right decision process of critical thinking which is concerned with asking the rights questions to identify the issue and reason behind the thinking. Asking questions narrows down towards the identification of the issue whereas the elements of thoughts go deeper to carry out analysis by establishing the assumptions, information, implications and the inferences of thoughts (Browne & Keeley, 2007). As such, the elements of thoughts is more in-depth in facilitating analytical thinking.

Superiority and Impact in the Thinking Process

The elements of thought are more superior because it has more features to be considered compared to "Asking the Right Questions" concept of reasoning. Asking the right question narrows down on an issue without considering the assumptions, inferring existing information, establishing assumptions, and incorporating concepts which makes the elements of thoughts more superior due to the ability to narrow down on a resulting reason in a holistic manner (Elder & Paul, 2007). The elements of thought approach of critical thinking are better because it can prevent biases by incorporating holistic considerations such as implications, asking questions, evaluating information, and more importantly inferences and interpretation which is crucial in reaching conclusions and solutions (Elder & Paul, 2007).

Conclusion

Asking the Right Question and the elements of thoughts are both necessities for critical thinking. Both concepts seek to improve critical thinking by enhancing the reasoning process to establish issues and ask questions which are vital in thinking. However, elements of thought is a more conclusive approach of reasoning due to the consideration of the assumptions, concepts, implications and point of view which eliminates bias in the reasoning process facilitating the use of evidence compared to the asking the right question framework which does not provide an avenue to eliminate bias.

References

Browne, M. N., & Keeley, S. M. (2007). Asking the right questions: A guide to critical thinking. Pearson Education.

Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2007). Analytic thinking: How to take thinking apart and what to look for when you do. Foundations for critical thinking.

Harvey, F., (2018). Critical GIS: Distinguishing critical theory from critical thinking. The Canadian Geographer/Le Geographe canadien, 62(1), 35-39. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cag.12440