Critical thinking skills will often determine your success in school, work, and life. The prevalence of misinformation and information overload makes it so important to develop a mindset that focuses on critical thinking.
If you’ve ever been asked if you are a Democrat or a Republican, your answer may have fallen into neither category. In fact, according to a 2018 Pew research study, 38% of those polled claimed to be Independent in their party choice, while only 31% committed to being Democrat and 26% Republican. But the original … Read more
I love hearing a good conspiracy theory. And, apparently I’m in good company with the majority of other people. However, I mainly love these far-fetched theories because they are, by and large, ridiculous. And therefore…entertaining. But in our society of uncertainty and frequent tragedies, people tend to look for ways to make sense of devastating … Read more
If I were to ask you what the cost of living will be in Canada in March of next year, the first thing you may think to ask back is what the cost of living in Canada is today. Then, based on that number, you would probably make an assumption about how (or if) that … Read more
Did you participate in the celebrated ice bucket challenge of 2014? If so, do you remember what it was for? And if you do, do you know what “ALS” stands for? If you did participate in the ice bucket challenge, you probably felt like you were doing something for a good cause. However, if you’re … Read more
When I was in high school, I had to participate in a debate with a classmate on the topic of whether or not the drinking age should be pushed from 21 to 18. I was assigned to argue that it should be 18 and she argued that it should stay 21. I initially thought this … Read more
If you’re job hunting, you’re certainly not alone. And if you are fresh out of college, you may be having a tough time competing in a job market with others who have extensive experience in your chosen field. This is where a major frustration comes into trying to land a job. Often, companies will say … Read more
Let’s solve a quick math problem. A bat and a ball cost $1.10. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost? Ten cents, right? At least that’s what first came to mind for me when reading this first question in a series of three in the Cognitive Reflection Test. … Read more
“The orator persuades by means of his hearers, when they are roused to emotion by his speech; for the judgments we deliver are not the same when we are influenced by joy or sorrow, love or hate.” – Aristotle Can you think of a time when you believed something to be true, but in hindsight, … Read more
If you’re trying to prove something is true, what is the first thing you look for? I think it’s fair that most people would say that evidence or facts is where they start when searching for the truth. But, if you can’t find any evidence, where do you go next? You may give up and … Read more
We all make assumptions. Making assumptions is a way to save brain power, as we can simply put patterns together of human behavior or other phenomena based on our past experiences. Doing so helps us make sense of the world as we encounter new people or situations. And while making assumptions isn’t always a bad … Read more