Critical thinking as an information security factor in the modern world

Abstract

Access to information in today’s world is unprecedentedly easy thanks to the Internet and social media. However, this also creates information overload and the threat of disinformation. Critical thinking is becoming a key skill for sifting reliable information from fakes and manipulations, which makes this topic relevant. The research aims to determine the role of critical thinking in ensuring the information security of the population in the modern world. The study used the methods of analysis, systematisation, synthesis, and generalisation. The study confirmed that critical thinking is an important factor in the field of information security of the population, and also examined the main aspects of critical thinking and its components, including analysis of information sources, fact-checking, contextual understanding, bias research, formulation of critical questions and self-assessment. The study also thoroughly analyses the key aspects of critical thinking skills and considers the concept of Team-Based Learning (TBL), which is an active approach to education aimed at stimulating students’ critical thinking and engaging them in an active learning process. The results of the study highlight the peculiarities and importance of developing critical thinking skills in the Ukrainian population, especially in the context of the ongoing war with Russia, as the war manifests itself not only on the military front but also in the information space, and therefore the development of critical thinking becomes an important element in protecting national interests and information security. The results of the study can be used by researchers to develop specific recommendations and strategies to increase the level of critical thinking among the population and improve information security.