Critical Thinking Is About Asking Better Questions

Critical Thinking Is About Asking Better Questions

Unleashing the power of critical thinking hinges on the ability to ask incisive questions. It's not about finding immediate answers, but about challenging assumptions, exploring perspectives, and fostering a deeper understanding. Let's delve into the art of asking better questions.

At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions.

For effective questioning, start by…

Hold your hypotheses loosely

In critical thinking exercises, we often fall rapidly into an intuitive and jointly held “answer” or hypothesis – particularly in groups – and we ask questions that seek to prove rather than disprove our thoughts. Critical questions, however, may force us to fundamentally reconsider our initial conclusions.

Stew in a problem

The best questions are often formulated after consideration and a good night’s rest

Listen more than you talk

The key to great questions is active listening

Ask the hard follow-up questions

It can be easy to put our brains on cruise control, to accept easy answers, or to yield to social pressures that push us to avoid interrogating others.

Leave your queries open-ended

Avoid asking yes-or-no questions and instead pose queries that force the respondent to open up and pontificate

Consider the counterintuitive

When problem-solving, we often quickly fall into groupthink

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