Consider the standards by which you judge the information you hear and read, and the weight you place in your friend’s opinions. Ask yourself if you question the information you take in, look for evidence supporting external claims or whether you accept information without evaluating it. For instance, when a critical thinker hears new information, such as a television advertisement by a political party, she evaluates the source of the information, whether the information is realistic and the rhetoric used to sell the party platform.
Identify the standards you use to evaluate your own ideals and beliefs. Ask yourself if you question the ideas you already hold, and if you locate ideals you have not tested, consider whether your impulse is to begin reevaluating those ideas. As an example, when a critical thinker locates a personal belief he has not evaluated, such as his political affiliation, he considers the reasons he first joined his current party, compares his beliefs to the ideals of the party and evaluates whether the party continues to live up to his expectations.
Determine whether you break down ideas into the various elements which make up the idea, such as the evidence for the idea, the purpose of the belief, the ramifications of the idea and how it relates to other beliefs. For instance, when a critical thinker considers an idea, such as a political party, she considers multiple aspects of the party institution, such as the morality of each platform idea, the relevance of each idea compared to the modern world and if each position supports the party’s original ideals.
Consider your reaction when you make a wrong decision and ask yourself if you hold to your original decision or reconsider your original position. As an example, when a critical thinker realizes he made a poor decision, such as supporting a political issue that turned out to be incorrect, he evaluates the error, learns from his mistake and adds the new knowledge to his evaluation of the issue.