Critical Thinking in the Discourse of Russian and World Science: a Review of Research

Abstract

Introduction. The study of the considered problems is relevant in the context of the digitalization of modern society, where critical thinking becomes an integral attribute of the formed personality. It allows you to analyze and assess the reliability of information, prioritize data, reflexively assess the situation and consciously communicate with surrounding individuals both offline and online. This article considers the definition of the concept and scientific approaches to the study of “critical thinking”. The independence (a developed broad outlook and the presence of logic), emotionality and flexibility (the ability to interpret, analyze and compare), as well as depth and integrity (observation, a detailed approach to the study of the issue, a vision of the general, not just the particular) are stood out among the key characteristics of this phenomenon.Objective. There is an aggregation, analysis and interpretation of empirical and theoretical data of Russian and foreign specialists in the field of psychology, philosophy, pedagogy and sociology on the topic of critical thinking.Concepts of critical thinking. Approximate scientific concepts in the field of studying the phenomenon of critical thinking are considered. The distinctive features of philosophical, psychological, pedagogical and communicative approaches are determined.Approaches to the study of critical thinking. The analysis of the research experience of the scientific community on the problem of critical thinking is carried out. The key features and groups of requirements for critical thinking are highlighted.Discussion. The analysis of the research are conducted by the authors of native and foreign authors on the problem of critical thinking made it possible to form an idea of the study of each of the presented concepts, determining the further potential for work at the junction of psychological and communicative approaches. This method will allow us to consider the phenomenon of critical thinking from the point of view of the importance of the skill in terms of communicative interaction in social networks and exposure to provocative actions on the part of users in a naturally and artificially given context.