FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which concept emphasizes assessing one's own assumptions and judgments?

1. Creative thinking

2. Critical thinking

3. Deductive reasoning

4. Cognitive behavior

The correct answer is: Critical thinking

The concept that emphasizes assessing one's own assumptions and judgments is critical thinking. Critical thinking involves the careful analysis and evaluation of information, arguments, and various viewpoints. It requires individuals to question their own beliefs and the validity of their reasoning processes. This self-reflective aspect helps individuals identify biases, understand the complexity of issues, and make reasoned decisions based on evidence rather than emotion or unfounded beliefs. While creative thinking focuses on generating new ideas and solutions, and deductive reasoning involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles, critical thinking uniquely prioritizes the scrutiny and evaluation of one's own thoughts and the logic behind them. Cognitive behavior, on the other hand, relates more to psychological patterns and behaviors rather than directly to the assessment of personal judgments and assumptions. Thus, critical thinking stands out as the concept dedicated to evaluating and improving one's own reasoning capabilities.