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This page was translated from the German original, partly by machine. Some passages may read awkwardly or contain inaccuracies. When in doubt, please read the original.

Exercise: Self-Assessment of Your Critical Thinking Skills

Assess your own critical thinking skills by answering the following questions on a scale from 1 (rarely) to 5 (very often):

  1. Do you question information before you accept it?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you actively look for evidence that might contradict your own convictions?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you consider different perspectives before you arrive at a conclusion?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you notice when your emotions influence your judgment?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Are you willing to change your opinion when new evidence emerges?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you identify assumptions in arguments (your own and others')?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you distinguish between facts and opinions?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you recognize fallacies in arguments?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you assess the credibility of information sources?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often
  1. Do you regularly reflect on your own thinking processes?
    • 1 - rarely
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5 - very often

Scoring:​

Add up your points based on your answers (1-5 for each question) to get a total score of at most 50. (Of course you can cheat and rate yourself higher, but that considerably reduces the value of this exercise.)

  • 40-50 points: Strong critical thinking skills
  • 30-39 points: Good critical thinking skills with room for improvement
  • 20-29 points: Basic critical thinking skills that should be developed further
  • Below 20 points: Significant potential for developing critical thinking skills

Note that this self-assessment is subjective and may be influenced by cognitive biases. It serves as a starting point for your personal development in critical thinking.