Critical Thinking Project: Daily Life, Mental Health, Society

This project examines the significant impact of critical thinking and problem-solving skills on various aspects of human life, including daily decision-making, mental health, and societal structures. The paper delves into the characteristics of critical thinking, its importance in different contexts, and the theoretical frameworks that underpin it, such as critical social theory and schema theory. The project highlights the benefits of critical thinking, such as enhanced presentation and language skills, and promotes innovation and creativity. The assignment also provides an overview of the project's structure, including the introduction, characteristic features, importance, theoretical contributions, and conclusion, with references to support the arguments presented. The student's project aims to provide valuable insights into how critical thinking can be applied to improve one's understanding of the world and make more informed decisions.

Running head: CRITICAL THINKING
CRITICAL THINKING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Characteristic features of Critical thinking and problem solving skills..........................................3
Importance of critical thinking and problem solving skills.............................................................5
Theoretical contribution to critical thinking and decision making skills in our daily lives............7
Critical social theory....................................................................................................................7
Schema Theory............................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The aim of the research paper is to discuss the effect of critical thinking skills and
problem solving in daily lives which also includes the mental health and society. Critical
thinking can be termed as one of the most valuable tool one can use in every decision making
aspect of life. According to the author Paul and Elder, (2019) there is always a problem in the
life of human being which needs to get solved with one of the most important decision making
tool. Defining and understanding critical thinking can be very helpful when a person is trying to
find out a solution to a valuable problem. Critical thinking is also known for allowing a person to
get informed with various types of valuable decision making tools to use.
According to the author McPeck, (2016) one of the best definition of critical thinking is
that it is one of the best tool or process which is used to figure out a myriad of information and
then make various types of informed decision about the information gathered. Another source
also defines critical thinking to be a thought process of thinking logically and critically about an
issue later finding out a methodology to solve the selected problem.
Therefore it can be said that once the information has been gather by the person, they can
definitely evaluate the information and as well as find out the alternative to the problem and try
to solve it initially. The ultimate goals of the critical thinking process is to gain a valuable
understanding regarding the main problem and then finally getting into it by solving it. However
it has to be kept in mind that the process of critical thinking and decision making completely
depends on the critical thinker as a whole ad the key components which are used in the process
of critical thinking process (Meltzoff and Cooper, 2018)
.

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According to the author Cottrell,(2017) it has been found out that the process of critical
thinking and problem solving is often used in every areas of life and thus creating a valuable life.
However it can be said that both the thing critical thinking and decision making skills are
important to each other. According to the author Sternberg and Halpern, (2020) it has been found
out that critical thinking and problem solving skills are both important to a business organization
and make a difference in the operational activities of the company. But critical thinking and
problem solving skills are complementary to each other both are often mixed with each other but
they tend to go parallel to each other in every aspect.
Characteristic features of Critical thinking and problem solving skills
According to the author Hitchcock, (2018) in an industrial research work it has been found
out that there are eight different types of characteristic features of critical thinking and problem
solving skills. The process of critical thinking and problem solving skills are known for asking
different types of question in the first process. Then it tries to define the main problem that is
associated with the projects, examines the difference, analyze the diverse assumptions in the
case. It is known for avoiding various types of emotional questioning and reasoning skills in the
first place which does not at all consider various types of interpretation of raw data.
Another one of the most important characteristic feature of critical thinking and problem
solving skill is that it is mainly identified by the main source of metacognition. Metacognition is
one of the most beautiful process of thinking about one’s own thinking process and analyzing it
further to get more information as a whole. According to the author Paul and Elder,(2019.) it can
be said that it is the process of staying aware and perform specific task that will relate to control
the problem in the first case. In his research paper the eight essentials aspects of critical thinking
and problem solving skills are :

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 Disposition – it has been found out in a research work that the critical thinkers are
skeptical, open minded, value fair mindedness, respect evidence rather than just
reasoning it for the time being. They tend to look at different types of viewpoints and
change position accordingly if they find a particular reason or aspect is not working.
 Criteria – it is said that in order to think critically and then solve various types of problem
associated with the person he or she has to apply various types of criteria as a whole.
They need to set a particular condition and then consider what has to be judged and
believed. However it can be said that the argument can be made on any criteria but some
subject area has to be considered which will be relevant and most accurate in the
particular case scenario based on accurate facts (Paul, 2018).
 Arguments - Critical thinking process and problem solving skill is known for identifying,
evaluate and construct arguments with various types of supporting documents.
 Reasoning – In order to get a proper conclusion to the identified problem a person needs
to reason out various types of possible things so that they can be used in order to build a
logical relationship as a whole.
 Point of view – According to the author Paul and Elder,(2019) it can be stated that the
way a person tends to look at the world, it is known for shaping the construction process
of logical thinking skills so as by gaining knowledge from various types of point of view.
 Procedures for applying the criteria of problem solving – The author also finds out in his
research work that all other types of thinking process are known for using a general
procedure of thinking process but however critical thinking on the other hand is known
for making use of various type of procedures which best suit the decision main process.
The procedures mainly includes the process of asking various types of self-assessment

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questions, making judgments and then identifying various types of assumption as a
whole.
Importance of critical thinking and problem solving skills
Critical thinking is important in our daily life as because it is a great domain in general thinking
skill. Therefore the main ability to think clearly and rationally is very important in whatever we
do or whatever we choose in life. According to the author Coffman, Gray and Pool, (2019) if a
person is working in a research best of finance based or as well as in a legal profession and if a
student is working in an educational institution then critical thinking is obvious for them. It is
because it helps in solving various types of problems which do appear in our daily life. Also it
can be said that the critical thinking skills and as well as the problem solving skills are not just
restricted to a particular subject or limited within an area. Being able to think critically and as
well as solve various types of problem in like systematically is a good asset for any career a
person is working for.
Critical thinking is also very important in the new knowledge of economy. According to
the author the global knowledge of economy is mainly driven by two major factors which are the
technological factors and as well as the information oriented factor. Therefore one has to be able
to deal and as well as critically and effectively solve various types of problems according to the
changes in the economic condition. The new economy places increases demand on various types
of flexible intellectual who prosper skills in decision making, critical thinking and problem
solving interventions. Therefore it can be said that good critical thinking skills and as well as
problem solving skills promotes things which are very important in a fast changing workplace.

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Also it has been found out that critical thinking is also known for enhancing the
presentation skills and as well as improve the language skills of a person. Thinking clearly and as
well as systematically can improve the way a person tries to express or analyze their thinking
process and building ideas. Therefore with the process of critical thinking and problem solving
skills operation analyses the logical structure of the text, the comprehensive abilities one has
within one’s own personality (Jamhari and Sipahutar 2018).
Critical thinking skills and problem solving skills are also known for promoting
Innovation and creativity within oneself. In order to come up with a creative solution one has to
general various types of new idea. Also it should be analyzed that the new ideas which are
generated must be relevant as well as useful to the task on hand. Therefore it can be said that the
critical thinking process and as well as the problem solving process plays a very crucial role in
the process of evaluation of new ideas, selecting out the best ones and as well as for the
modifying them if found necessary.
Also the main purpose of critical thinking and decision making is by simulating the
mental health system into a process of reaction and discussion of children. It is thus within this
discussion about the concept of critical thinking becomes much active. Each and every individual
will does experience a new and unique process of critical thinking about the mental health
system in relation to his or her believes, personal values and day-to-day practices in life (Argaw,
Ayalew and Kuma 2016).
The society is a complex nature in the presented which also requires the process of complex
thinking. Critical thinking is learnable, being a waiter critical thinker will be assisting the human
beings in the native society to view the world in a better manner and thus make better decisions

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which will be more rational. It will also help the society to get rid of various types of social
imbalances thus creating a better place to live in.
Theoretical contribution to critical thinking and decision making skills in our
daily lives
According to the author Kazdin, (2017) theories have been defined in many different
ways and the different levels which proposes various types of disciplinary measures and theories
that has been argued on the existence and practice based on research work. However it can be
said that the critical thinking skills contribute to various types of theoretical approaches which
includes the evaluation of the concept of critical thinking.
Critical social theory
The critical social theory is mostly described as one of the best theory of society, history
and self. Specifically the critical social theory is known for respecting the diversity is and as well
as the socio-political existence of the specific situational theories. It is basically a form of
knowledge that aims to liberate the individuals both on a conscious and on an unconscious
manner, providing a balanced social interaction with the effects of critical thinking skills. Critical
social theory is also very useful in generating knowledge that will be fully based on the
analytical reflection of power relationship that will be embedded for the in various types of
functions in the society. In other words it can be said that it will be exposing various types of
power relationship method that will be helping the society to get a proper shape and build a
better environment for the people to live in.

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Schema Theory
According to the author Kinicki and Fugate, (2017) rather than effortless and often found
in an unconscious manner human beings also struggle to construct mental images of the objects
and concepts that into experience on their daily life or early childhood. Therefore this concepts
are known for allowing people to represent their minds beautiful manner. This concept and
theory will be allowing people to represent their mind everything they have experienced
Conclusion
In order to conclude the above research paper it can be said that it has discussed the effect of
critical thinking skills and problem solving in daily lives which also includes the mental health
and society. Thus it can be said that the process of critical thinking is one of the most interesting
and best possible way to solve various types of problem which appear in the life of a person,

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References
Argaw, A.S., Haile, B.B., Ayalew, B.T. and Kuma, S.G., 2016. The effect of problem based
learning (PBL) instruction on students’ motivation and problem solving skills of physics. Eurasia
Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 13(3), pp.857-871.
Coffman-Wolph, S., Gray, K. and Pool, M., 2019. Work-in-Progress: Research plan for
introducing problem solving skills through activities to an introductory computer science course.
In ASEE Gulf-Southwest Section Annual Meeting 2018 Papers. American Society for
Engineering Education.
Cottrell, S., 2017. Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Hitchcock, D., 2018. Critical thinking.
Jamhari, M. and Sipahutar, H., 2018, December. The Effects of Visual Mapping and Science-
Related Attitudes on Students’ Problem Solving Skills. In 3rd Annual International Seminar on
Transformative Education and Educational Leadership (AISTEEL 2018). Atlantis Press.
Kazdin, A.E., 2017. Parent management training and problem-solving skills training for child
and adolescent conduct problems. Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents,
pp.142-158.
Kinicki, A. and Fugate, M., 2017. Loose Leaf for Organizational Behavior: A Practical,
Problem-Solving Approach. McGraw-Hill Education.
McPeck, J.E., 2016. Critical thinking and education. Routledge.
McPeck, J.E., 2016. Teaching critical thinking: Dialogue and dialectic. Routledge.

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Meltzoff, J. and Cooper, H., 2018. Critical thinking about research: Psychology and related
fields. American psychological association.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. A guide for educators to critical thinking competency standards:
Standards, principles, performance indicators, and outcomes with a critical thinking master
rubric. Rowman & Littlefield.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. The nature and functions of critical & creative thinking. Rowman &
Littlefield.
Paul, R.W., 2018. Critical thinking and the critical person. In Thinking (pp. 373-403). Routledge.
Shute, V.J., Wang, L., Greiff, S., Zhao, W. and Moore, G., 2016. Measuring problem solving
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Suor, J.H., Sturge‐Apple, M.L., Davies, P.T. and Cicchetti, D., 2017. A life history approach to
delineating how harsh environments and hawk temperament traits differentially shape children's
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