Critical Thinking

RUNNING HEADER: THINKING AND DECISION MAKING PAPER

Thinking and Decision Making Paper

Critical Thinking: Strategies for Decision Making

MGT 350

Abstract

This paper will be covering at least three different types of thinking styles. The content will explain the differences and similarities of thinking that is used on an everyday basis. Each type affects critical thinking in some way. Some examples of use will also be presented.

Thinking and Decision Making Paper

Introduction

With many types of thinking styles critical thought is a process in which an individual will focus on a specific issue. Critical thinking affects everyone from the stakeholder to the homemaker and this is essential to learn the critical thinking process and use one of the methods of thinking to determine the correct solution.

Scientific Method of Thinking

Several styles of thinking are used in the critical thinking process. One of these styles is scientific thinking, and the goal of a scientific thinker is "not to become scientists but to learn about the basis of research in order to become intelligent consumers of scientific information" (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007, p.220). Four major steps used in scientific thinking are observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and verification. Observation is what makes an individual curious and induces the desire for more information, in other words, the need to know why something works or happens. The hypothesis step is used to show the relationship between two thoughts, and the individual moves on to then experiment the hypothesis to determine if the hypothesis may be correct. The final step of verification is used in scientific thinking to determine of the information backs up the hypothesis.

The scientific method of thinking is the most reliable way of thinking and is used in most areas of life, not just science. In order to use scientific thinking all the variables must have the capability of being measured. The scientific thinker will use empirical evidence, which is something that can be repeated when tested. Empirical evidence is defined as "evidence that one can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell" (Schafersman, 1997, p.2). Scientific thinking keeps emotions and personal beliefs out of the thinking process. This ensures that throughout research in the scientific method, the proof is subjective and the theory can be proved as valid by the evidence from the experiment. The evidence that is obtained must be controlled so the results can be established by looking at the variables within the experiment in a scientific manner. With proper documentation and experimentation in the scientific method, an individual can come to a well-informed decision and convince others that the theory is valid.

Scientific thinking is best used in a workplace setting to solve a scientific problem. In real estate, the problem where scientific thinking is used may be to determine market value of a property. To determine market value an individual can look at current active inventory and recent solds. This data is clear cut and relevant to the price of the subject property. In reviewing this, data all the implications of the active inventory and recent solds are looked at to obtain a true and accurate market value of the subject property. The scientific method will use all the steps to reach an educated and well-proved opinion in the thinking process. This type of thinking will not assume that something is correct but will use all the steps necessary to prove correctness. A true scientific thinker will keep bias out of his or her studies so the individual's judgment is not impaired either consciously or unconsciously.

Persuasive Method of Thinking

Next, this paper comes to persuasive thinking. Persuasive thinking is the art of going into

the mind, gathering information on specific things then delivering it to someone in a way that is

believable. Persuasive thinking ties into creative thinking. One has to be creative in order to

persuade someone to believe his or her stance on a given situation. An individual who has

mastered the skill of persuasive thinking will be someone who is not bias (Goodpaster, Kirby,

2007). When using persuasive thinking, much like when speaking, an individual must make sure

that the information being delivered is accurate. The act of persuading requires a passion and

drive. Without those two elements, it may be hard to convince someone to believe in the same

things.

When trying to persuade, individuals should first survey the audience. Persuasions should

be delivered in terms that are understood. At times, persuasion is mistaken for manipulation, in

which one individual will take advantage of another (2007). Words of persuasion are carefully

constructed. Everything should be thought out completely and make sense. Individuals tend to

lean more towards those persons who seem as though they are easy going and have a strong

knowledge of the subject in which they are speaking. Words have to flow without hesitance and

come out with precision.

At UBS Financial Services, persuasion is used on a regular basis. Financial advisors will

review client accounts and come up with a proposal to present to the client (Larry Knowlton,

Financial Advisor, personal communication, 2008). A meeting is scheduled between FA and

client to review what can be done. FAs have to maintain a certain confidence level when

presenting that way the client will trust what is being said. At the end of the