Final answer:
Critical thinking, as outlined by Dr. Nall, is the ability to thoughtfully analyze and evaluate information to make reasoned judgments. It entails overcoming cognitive biases, engaging in critical reflection, and developing habits of mind that facilitate logical analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Critical thinking is defined as the ability to analyze, make inferences, evaluate, synthesize, and draw conclusions based on researched information. It involves a rigorous process of gathering information about a topic, analyzing and evaluating evidence, and forming a judgment. Dr. Nall emphasizes that critical thinking requires overcoming cognitive biases, which involves engaging in critical reflection and developing good habits of mind. This means being skeptical of one's own beliefs and intuitions, considering the facts and evidence, and employing logic rather than mental shortcuts to reach conclusions. Additionally, to effectively counterclaim or understand a dissenting opinion, it's important to understand the perspective of others and consider it in the analysis.
Critical analysis, a component of critical thinking, means thinking about what text or data means and how the parts relate to the whole. To promote good critical thinking, one must put oneself in a frame of mind that allows for this level of reflection, which is more accurate in decision-making.