Critical Thinking, Scientific Method, and Problem-Solving

Which example shows a person using critical thinking?

• Choosing a product mainly because the packaging is colorful and eye-catching, without checking any reviews or details

• Reading two articles with different viewpoints before deciding which argument is most convincing based on the evidence

• Agreeing with friends to avoid disagreement, without considering whether their opinions are supported by facts

• Guessing on a test question without reading all the answer choices or thinking about what the question is asking

What is the first step when designing an experiment?

• Collecting all your data

• Forming a hypothesis

• Asking a clear, testable question

• Writing a conclusion

Which statement best compares the scientific method and a problem-solving methodology?

• Both involve forming a hypothesis and conducting experiments

• Only the scientific method involves identifying and analyzing a problem

• Both use a step-by-step process to find solutions based on evidence

• Problem-solving methods are used only in everyday life, not in science

A student wants to decide which recycling program is most effective for their school. Which action demonstrates critical thinking?

• Choosing the program with the most colorful posters

• Reading proposals from different programs and comparing data on waste reduction

• Picking the program most of their friends prefer

• Guessing which program will work best without reviewing information

A researcher is planning an investigation into plant growth. Which sequence begins the process correctly according to the scientific method?

• Write a conclusion, collect data, form a hypothesis

• Form a hypothesis, collect data, ask a question

• Ask a clear, testable question, then design the experiment to collect data

• Collect data first, then decide what question to ask

Which option best describes convergent thinking?

• Brainstorming many possible ideas for a problem

• Coming up with one correct solution to a clearly defined question

• Writing a story that could end in several different ways

• Generating as many creative uses for a paperclip as possible

Select the statement that shows convergent thinking.

• Listing dozens of ways to decorate a classroom

• Narrowing down ideas to identify the single best answer

• Exploring unusual solutions without judging them

• Creating multiple endings for a narrative

A student says, "Every time I’ve eaten lunch in the cafeteria, the pizza line is the longest. So, pizza must be the most popular lunch." What type of reasoning are they using?

• Deductive reasoning, because they start with a general rule and apply it to one case

• Inductive reasoning, because they draw a general conclusion from specific observations

• Deductive reasoning, because they use facts to make a conclusion that must be true

• Inductive reasoning, because they are testing a hypothesis with an experiment

Which action is the best example of metacognitive thinking?

• Solving a math problem with a calculator

• Memorizing facts for a quiz

• Reflecting on why you struggled with a test question

• Taking notes during a lecture without reviewing them

Which classroom activity most clearly demonstrates divergent thinking?

• Analyzing options to select the single best answer

• Brainstorming multiple ways to solve a complex problem

• Checking work to find the one correct solution

• Using a formula to compute the precise answer