Critical Thinking

 

What is Critical Thinking

Critical thinking represents the practice of being able to carefully examine ideas, claims and evidence, as opposed to accepting them at face value. It involves the ability to think clearly rationally and without bias. It also means looking at information objectively and forming a fair, honest opinion. For me it means asking questions, thinking things through step by step and identifying unfair opinions, weak points or flaws in arguments. I would be inclined to use argument mapping, which I have explained further on in my work. I would draw information from various sources, arriving at my conclusion.

Critical thinking is an essential skill that can be utilised in many situations, whether that be in personal life or work life. It enables me to think carefully and make well thought out decisions, based on facts and logical reasoning (Singh, 2023).

Critical thinking is not just about finding the correct answers, but to ask the right questions and to make sure the information is reliable. To improve critical thinking, consider the 6 Ws, (Who, why, What, when, where and how), (University of Greenwich 2023).

Critical thinking encourages us to be curious and open minded. It helps us to see things from different perspectives, before making decisions based on assumptions and encourages careful thinking. Also, it allows us to identify when information is misleading and to make correct judgements.

Critical thinking helps me to solve problems and explain my ideas clearly, enabling better choices. It also helps with growth, personally and professionally, allowing me to understand things on a deeper level, leading to better outcomes in person centred care.

The Six Critical Questions – Melanie ...

Critical Thinking – The 6 c’s

 

How is Critical Thinking Applied

For me Critical Thinking begins with clearly understanding the problem or question that I am trying to solve (Heard et.al., 2020). Having a clear goal keeps my thinking focused, so that I do not become distracted or confused. Once I know what I am aiming for, I gather information and carefully consider whether it is reliable and relevant, before making any decisions. I then take time to reflect on my own thinking to check for any bias or mistakes. This helps me make more thoughtful, balanced judgements overall.

In everyday situations, I use critical thinking by weighing different options and thinking through possible outcomes, before deciding. This kind of reasoning helps me make choices in a more focused and logical way.

When I am faced with a decision, I take a step back and look at the macro perspective. (Padmanabha 2021), explains the importance of questioning assumptions and being open to other perspectives, which I try to practice, especially when learning something new or working with others.

There is a method called argument mapping that breaks down a complex problem into smaller parts, to show how different ideas connect. This is especially helpful when dealing with complicated issues, as it helps me think more clearly and make decisions that are thoughtful, fair and well informed (Van Gelder 2025).

Overall, I see critical thinking as a process where I set goals, analyse information carefully, reflect honestly and use tools to help me make well informed decisions. It also helps me to stay open minded in challenging situations.

 

 

 

Ethical Dilemmas and Critical Thinking

A Personal Experience

I was working in a care home, when a new resident, with mental health issues repeatedly refused their medication. Their medication had to be administered by injection. I realised that they had an aversion to needles. I found myself in a challenging dilemma (Mason 2025). The resident was not being awkward or defiant, it was a genuine fear and discomfort for them.

Legally adults who are considered to have capacity, can refuse medical treatment, even if it poses a risk to themselves or if others believe it is unwise to do so, or disagree (Mind 2024).

I assessed the resident’s decision-making ability through careful and respectful conversation. I asked questions like, can you explain what you don’t like about taking this medication? how is it making you feel? what is making you feel uncomfortable? And generally encouraging them to share their feelings and views. I assessed their decision-making capacity rather than assuming they lacked understanding. According to (Moncrieff 2021), sometimes refusing medication can be an informed and rational decision rather than being impaired by judgement.

With the support of the mental health team, nurses and a G.P., we considered less intrusive options and monitored the resident’s progress closely.

Reflecting on this experience, I have learnt that critical thinking in care is not about assumptions or rushing to conclusions, but requires careful evaluation, patience, empathy and to engage in talking and listening to the patient. Having the ability to ask the right questions and to carefully evaluate the best course of action for each individual.

 

 

References

 

Heard, J., Scoular, C., Duckworth, D., Ramalingam, D. and Teo I (2020). Critical Thinking Definition and Structure. Australia council for educational research. Available at, https://research.acer.edu.au/ar-misc/38 

Mason, R., (2025). Triple Murderer Valdo Calocane Refused Medication as he did not like Needles, care review finds. The Guardian. Available at, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/05/triple-murderer-valdo-calocane-refused-medication-as-he-did-not-like-needles-care-review-finds.

Mind (2024). Could I be Treated Without my Consent? Mind. Available at, https://www,mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/consent-to-treatment/could-i-be-treated-without-my-consent

Moncrieff, J., (2021). Antipsychotics: Is it Time to Introduce Patient Choice? British Journal of Psychiatry. Available at, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/antipsychotics-is-it-time-to-introduce-patient-choice/E99445E844B0238DD1FD41DF278C1250.

Padmanabha, C.H., (2021). Critical Thinking Conceptual Framework. Manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology. Available at, https://www.papers.ssrn.com/s013/papers-cfm?abstract-id=3772743.

Singh D (2023). Importance of Critical Thinking. Available at, https??www.researchgate.net/publication/359800768-improtance-of-critical-thinking-in-the-education

University of Greenwich (2023). Lecture notes on critical thinking. Available at, https://www.gre.ac.uk

Van Gelder T.J., (2025). Designing AI Systems that Augment Human Performed VS, Demonstrated Critical Thinking. Available at, https://www.arxiv.org/abs/2504.14689.

 

Please feel free to share your feedback:

Comments

  1. Rashid Kigozi19 July 2025 at 17:11

    + Great use of a real-life experience to demonstrate how you apply critical thinking in care.
    + Clear explanation of key tools like argument mapping with strong sources and images.
    - You could have further explained how you will deal with similar situations after going through that critical thought process.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Saiqa Begum19 July 2025 at 22:59

    Good: Clear explanations with personal insights. The ethical dilemma example adds real-life relevance and depth.
    Improvement: Improve flow by reducing repetition. Also, check minor formatting issues in references and fix small typos

    ReplyDelete
  3. SOZIA KHAN AKHTAR26 July 2025 at 09:32

    This is a really good piece of work that shows you understand critical thinking well. Your example from the care home is excellent and shows how you used these skills in real life. You handled the situation with the resident very thoughtfully, asking good questions and working with the team to find the best solution. Your writing is clear and shows you can apply critical thinking to help people in your care.

    ReplyDelete
  4. thestranger3 August 2025 at 20:00

    This blogs demonstrates a strong understanding of what critical thinking entails and how it applies in health and social care settings. The personal example of the resident refusing medication is thoughtful, well-explained, and shows clear use of empathy and ethical reasoning. Your references are relevant and support the argument, though a few citations (like the Singh and Mind links) need correction for accuracy or formatting. Structurally, the writing could benefit from tighter paragraphing and more consistent tone (e.g., remove casual phrases like “for me”). The use of tools like argument mapping and reference to legal capacity adds valuable depth. Overall, this is a strong reflection with practical insight and good integration of critical thinking theory

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Honest Reflection

  Realising What Reflection Really Means I used to think of reflection as “thinking back” in situations; I have realised whilst maturing it’s more than that. Working in the health and social care sector, honest reflection (McGarr and O’ Gallchóir, 2020) means being real with yourself, stepping back and asking, “What just happened here?” Even if the answer is uncomfortable, this means recognising not only just what went right but also what didn’t, and most importantly, being brave enough to question your actions. This isn’t to shame yourself but about taking accountability for your actions and learning from mistakes. Also, being honest in reflection requires vulnerability, which can be hard, but this is where the real growth starts. Using Gibbs Reflective Cycle to Guide Me Last semester we were introduced to a few models of reflection; one that really stayed with me was Gibbs reflective cycle (1988). This isn’t the only one out there, but for someone like myself who is working in...
Read more

Honest Reflection

Image
                                                                      A Personal Perspective of Honest Reflection “Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful” (Wheatley ,2010). To be effective, reflection embraces a blame free culture, where we can be truthful and honest with each other. Without fear of criticism or blame (HCPC 2024). Honest reflection delves beneath the surface. We are required to open ourselves up, be willing and truthful. We need to comprehend how our actions and behaviour can affect those around us (Main 2023). Personal development and self-awareness require us to recognise our strengths as well as our weaknesses, it's okay to show vulnerability and in doing so we not just reflect and celebrate our successe...
Read more

Honest Reflection

Image
Honest Reflection True reflection is not about being tough on yourself or dwelling on your mistakes. It is  about hearing both your strengths and weaknesses openly, aiming to learn and grow from them while remaining serene and truthful. According to Dewey, reflection is an “active, persistent and careful consideration” of things that we have thought and done (Brookfield, 2020) . Simply, it is about slowing down to reflect on experiences and accepting accountability rather than rapidly denying or correcting them. Expressing our emotions in the field of care and social work helps us, as we learn more about ourselves, gain confidence, and take on more responsibilities in our roles  (Skills for Care, 2023) . This practice encourages care workers to reflect on their decisions and their emotions, especially during times of stress or anxiety. By thinking honestly, individuals can foster safer and more compassionate care because people can ask themselves, “What can I improve next ti...
Read more